As New Year’s Eve Approaches -we need action to help local pubs

As people in North Durham prepare to celebrate New Year’s Eve, the number of local pubs continues to decline as publicans are hit by Government policies. In recent year’s many people have found that the pub in which they traditionally celebrate New Year’s Eve has closed.

North Durham has lost seven pubs in four years. Across the North East as a whole, over 100 pubs closed between 2005 and 2009. This is part of an accelerating nationwide trend that is seeing six pubs closing every week.

The pub is the beating heart of the community. Local pubs act as social hubs, allowing people to come together in a warm, social environment. The closure of local pubs is keenly felt in communities all year round but it really hits home at this time of year.

We should be doing all that we can to save our local pubs before it is too late. That means cutting taxes on low alcohol drinks such as beer and increasing tax on high alcohol problem drinks, like super strength cider. It means supporting our pubs as vital parts of the community and important providers of local jobs.