Pubs Close And Beer Sales Decline

Beer sales are declining faster than ever as tax increases force drinkers to tighten their belts and cause more pubs to close.
Some 572 million (7.1%) fewer pints were knocked back in the last year than the previous 12 months.
Pub beer sales were down 4.5% last year, when about 1,300 pubs were closed.
It is the largest slump on record, according to the British Beer and Pub Association, which said tax hikes are to blame.
Overall beer sales in the past three months were about 10% less than in May to July last year.