A pub isn't just for Christmas, it's for Life ......... in your community

26 January 2010

It depends which survey you want to listen to, but all agree that between 40 and 60 pubs are closing down every week. And I'm not talking about trendy high street vodka bars, but traditional pubs at the heart of rural, urban and suburban communities.

Pubs have been hit from so many directions over the years from increases in beer duty, unscrupulous landlords (although there are many good ones who deserve praise), the smoking ban, house prices etc. etc. Now last week the government announced a variety of measures targeting the pub trade, with the Home Secretary not ruling out "using pricing measures to make alcohol less easily available".

I'm not denying that we probably do have a binge drinking problem in this country, but the problem lies in society not with 99.9% of publicans who do their jobs responsibly. The BBC news stated that "70% of alcohol is consumed in the home" (probably by people tweeting!) If pricing measures have to be introduced, and I don't think they do, why target the 30%, most of whom are responsible drinkers. Even medical experts and the police admit that most of the problems they have to deal with on a Friday or Saturday night are people who have "frontloaded" on cheap alcohol before they go out. Apparently some retailers are selling alcohol cheaper than water! If anything, the government should be encouraging people into pubs where drinking is in a controlled environment.

Now I'm not asking for you to feel sorry for the pub industry. Like all of us, they have to operate in the real world with the same commercial pressures and government directives as everyone else. But do spare a thought for your local community life. The pub is as important to a local community (rural or urban) as the school or post office. It's a national icon. Overseas tourists recognise it as such and VisitBritain tell me tourists make a point of including a visit in their itinerary. It is a major part of our national identity, our culture and our heritage, and it is dying before our very eyes.

This week Service Science has teamed up with hospitality training company abv Training to launch National Know a Neighbour Save Your Pub Week, during the week of March 1st to March 7th. Traditionally a quiet time for the trade, we want everyone to stop their tweeting and poking of people they never see, and ask their neighbour down to the pub. Yes, that person down the road you have no idea what he or she does!

A Pub Isn't Just for Christmas. It's For Life

National Know a Neighbour Save Your Pub Week

1st - 7th March 2010

The campaign is to embrace the very technology contributing to us not talking to our neighbours any more and help save the pub in the process.

Richard Morrey - Managing Director, Service Science