Pub Trade in danger of collapse

Recent news suggests a downturn in the fortunes of the licenced trade resulting in a record number of pubs having to close. This trend is even more dramatic in urban areas.

Increasing tax levels on alcohol, the smoking ban and the credit crunch coupled with a rising cost of living means fewer people are visiting pubs these days with many opting to stay at home and drink cheap supermarket booze. Imn a bid to improve the health of the nation and to boost treasury income the government is killing the traditional pub an icon of British life. Whilst the bigger pubs and chains will diversify and concentrate on their restaurant business or switch to providing accommodation, the vast majority will fall by the wayside.
This is a great shame of course. The best way to control alcohol consumption is to limit its supply and what better way than in a licenced, controlled environment. The chancellor should immediately cut duty on alcohol sold in pubs, clubs and hotels. More duty should be put on alcohol sold in supermarkets and shops. There should be a return to licencing hours. This twenty four hour drinking idea just hasn’t worked, it has increased alcohol related crime and loutish behaviour. There are extra strains on police overtime budgets as revellers leave drinking establishments in the early hours of the morning.
Personally, I am sick of this nanny state. If people choose to drink themselves into an early grave, smoke themselves to death or die young fat and happy then let them. I can’t see the point of staying healthy longer, it is just delaying the inevitable. We are all going to die anyway.
As the population in the UK steadily grows older there will be more strains on pension provision, the health service, social services and local government to care for this older generation. As the cost of living is so high in this country it is difficult for many people to save into a pension scheme and cater for their old age.
Who benefits from an aging population anyway?
We will have to work longer to keep up a certain standard of living in our old age. We will be left with little care or provision when we eventually become ill, infirm or senile.
So live life to the full, enjoy it whilst you are young and get down to the pub for a quiet drink and interact with other people.
Life is all about our relationships with others and what we do for other people.

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