Norwich Pub Survey Highlights Crisis Facing Local Pubs

7.22.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 13th Oct 2008

A report released today, titled "Last Orders In Norwich?" highlights serious concerns of publicans in Norwich about the future of their trade. The report reveals:

• Only four-in-ten publicans in Norwich think they'll be running a pub in five years time.

• Nine-in-ten report falling drink sales, and over a half serving food report drops in food sales.

• Every publican said that cheap supermarket alcohol is having a big impact on pubs

• Four out of every five publicans have no confidence in the Government's approach to tackling binge drinking

The report is published by Simon Wright, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesman for Norwich South, and has sparked calls for minimum pricing of alcohol in supermarkets. Mr Wright is also calling for a meeting with licensing minister Gerry Sutcliffe to discuss the outcomes of the survey.

Mr Wright said "The Chancellor's policy of taxing the pint by an extra 4p this year has hit pubs in Norwich, and further rises in duty are a big fear of publicans. At the same time, the Government has failed to curb supermarket practices of irresponsible selling of alcohol. As a result, pubs in Norwich are being squeezed by the Treasury and cheap competition."

"The Government must seriously look at supermarket practices now and introduce a minimum price for alcohol. It is completely unacceptable that some major supermarkets are selling alcohol well below its cost. This would represent real action to help our local pubs compete and it would also help to curb binge drinking."

"Publicans in Norwich have raised real concerns over the Government's strategy for dealing with binge drinking, with nine-out-of-ten saying they have no confidence. Many feel that pubs are being blamed for binge drinking, whereas the real cause is the complete failure to tackle the underlying social causes for this behaviour and the availability of cheap alcohol in supermarkets."

25 publicans in Norwich took part in the survey.