Bitter blow for UK pub industry
It has been revealed that around 150 million fewer pints of beer have been served in the UK during 2009 compared to the same period in 2008. Sales have declined by 8.2% in the first three months of 2009 and we are literary seeing pubs going to the wall every day of the week. A mixture of increased business costs, increased taxation and the recession has pushed an industry which was already in trouble, over the edge.
The humble pint of beer down your local pub has been replaced by cheaper drink available in supermarkets throughout the UK. Even though the authorities have threatened the supermarkets with an investigation into alcohol sales, where we regularly see a situation whereby a pint of beer is more expensive than an equivalent bottle of water, no progress has been made. How bizarre is this at a time when the UK government is looking to improve the health of the nation after recent surveys criticised general health in the UK and child poverty.
Many are concerned that Britain's expanding social security budget is not hitting the places it was designed for and having little impact on the overall health of the nation and children in particular. The situation is unlikely to get much better over the next couple of years as the authorities look to balance the budget and reduce national debt.
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