Rachel Reeves is being urged to take action to save pubs as a new report highlights their role in tackling the loneliness crisis. Pubs are a vital defence against isolation, contributing billions of pounds in wellbeing benefits to Britons, according to research by WPI Strategy for the British Beer and Pubs Association.
Pubs as Social Hubs
The report claims that meeting friends and community members in pubs boosts wellbeing by up to £30 billion a year. Around three million adults in England feel lonely always or often. The social cost of severe loneliness, including impacts on health and productivity, is estimated at over £12,000 per person per year.
Martin Beck, former Treasury economist and report author, stated: "For many people a pub is not simply somewhere to buy a drink. It is where friendships are maintained, sports teams gather, local groups meet and neighbours bump into one another. That matters because human beings are social creatures. Decades of research have shown that strong social relationships are among the most important determinants of happiness, wellbeing and even physical health."
Government Response
A Government spokesperson said: "We are backing Britain’s pubs – cutting this year’s business rates bills by 15% followed by a two year freeze, extending World Cup opening hours and increasing the Hospitality Support Fund to £10 million to help venues grow while later this year, we’ll build on our Pride in Place programme with our a new high streets strategy to revitalise our town centres later this year."
This comes on top of capping corporation tax, cutting alcohol duty on draught pints and six cuts in interest rates, benefiting businesses in every part of Britain.
Call for Action
Emma McClarkin of the British Beer and Pub Association said: "This report shows just how important pubs are to our national wellbeing, which the Treasury’s own methodology proves creates billions in wellbeing value. This is proof that pubs not only contribute economically but they create precious, and often under-appreciated, social value that has a deeply positive effect on individuals and communities."
She added: "Given the unique and crucial value they provide, we should be protecting pubs, which are closing at a worrying rate due to the excessive burden of tax, regulation and rising employment costs. Government must recognise the incomparable economic and social value pubs bring through permanent long-term regulatory and tax reform that will keep our treasured locals open."
The report does not ignore the dangers of excessive drinking and acknowledges that for some people abstaining is the better choice, but it voices concern that the benefits of pubs are largely overlooked.
