milhouse
Newbie
Not this on-line pub but "the" English pub. RIP? I guess most of you guys visit the hostelry occasionally. For how long is that going to be possible other than via faceless characterless town centre mega-pubs?
There was a programme on the radio last night about locals taking over their own local. As I'm sure most of you know, pubs are closing at an alarming rate, especially in rural areas.
It seems to me that the Labour government treated pubs with a callous ambivalence, at best, with no acknowledgement of the role that they play in communities.
That's OK, though, because we've had a change of government, so presumably this approach has changed? NO! Osborne continued with the pattern of swingeing tax rises on pub's products. Other small businesses are (at least supposedly) nurtured and protected from taxes imposed on those with the "broadest shoulders". Does that apply to pubs? No, they are special cases for persecution by the government when it comes to taxation. No tax breaks and disproprotionate tax on their 'wet' products. The government don't even pay lip service to helping these businesses, whether small (i.e free houses) or mid/large (i.e. brewery owned).
When will our government wake up and at least delivery a level playing field as against the mega-supermarkets who have laughed all the way to the bank when it comes to the pitiful minimum price for alcohol in a hilariously pathetic sop to those who want to see an end to outrageously cheap alcohol (none of it of course relevant to pubs).
Wake up the government, acknowledge the essential role that pubs play and help local communities by assisting the local pub.
There was a programme on the radio last night about locals taking over their own local. As I'm sure most of you know, pubs are closing at an alarming rate, especially in rural areas.
It seems to me that the Labour government treated pubs with a callous ambivalence, at best, with no acknowledgement of the role that they play in communities.
That's OK, though, because we've had a change of government, so presumably this approach has changed? NO! Osborne continued with the pattern of swingeing tax rises on pub's products. Other small businesses are (at least supposedly) nurtured and protected from taxes imposed on those with the "broadest shoulders". Does that apply to pubs? No, they are special cases for persecution by the government when it comes to taxation. No tax breaks and disproprotionate tax on their 'wet' products. The government don't even pay lip service to helping these businesses, whether small (i.e free houses) or mid/large (i.e. brewery owned).
When will our government wake up and at least delivery a level playing field as against the mega-supermarkets who have laughed all the way to the bank when it comes to the pitiful minimum price for alcohol in a hilariously pathetic sop to those who want to see an end to outrageously cheap alcohol (none of it of course relevant to pubs).
Wake up the government, acknowledge the essential role that pubs play and help local communities by assisting the local pub.
