Hundreds of pubs could shut their doors this year, and no, that is not an overreaction for effect. Around 500 pubs are at risk thanks to an increase in alcohol duty coming into force on February 1, piling pressure onto venues that were already running on fumes.
MPs have warned this rise could be the final straw for many locals. At a time when rent, energy bills, and the general cost of existing are already doing the most, pubs are being asked to absorb yet another hit. Naturally, everyone’s first instinct is to order a drink.
Maybe make it a Diet Coke, though, because booze is getting more expensive too. The price of a pint of Guinness is set to rise by about 4p, and a 70cl bottle of Smirnoff will cost roughly 13p more. Tough news for people who “just fancy one,” and devastating for anyone emotionally attached to their usual order.
Despite the UK’s long list of historical baggage, pubs remain one of the country’s undisputed cultural wins. They are where friendships start, situationships spiral, birthdays get out of hand, and wakes somehow turn into nights out. If there were an unofficial national treasure list, pubs would be right near the top.
They are not just places to drink, either. Pubs are community glue, social shortcuts, and neutral ground for everyone from first dates to fifth reunions. In many towns, they are one of the last shared spaces that doesn’t ask much of you other than to show up.
At the center of it all is the pint. It is comforting, occasionally chaotic, and oddly powerful for something served in a glass. If tea is a gentle emotional support beverage, a pint is more like a flirt that sometimes turns serious.
Charlie Cooke, co-founder of One Million Pints, says that power comes from connection. His WhatsApp group, where tens of thousands of members share photos of their drinks in a collective effort to reach one million pints, has turned into something bigger than beer. “People are more atomised than ever, they’re looking for community wherever they can find it,” he said.
That sense of community has gone global. “We hear stories of members travelling to different parts of the world and meeting up with members in those areas,” Cooke said. “We’ve had meet-ups between members everywhere from Stratford to Sweden, from Brixton to Barbados.”
When pubs disappear, it is not just the taps that shut off. According to the British Beer and Pub Association, communities lose a piece of their social fabric when a pub closes. It is the loss of a shared living room, not just a bar.
Yes, money is tight and nobody needs reminding that the cost of living crisis is relentless. Still, pub closures affect more than weekend plans. They change how people connect, especially in places where there are few alternatives.
The BBPA says supporting pubs does not have to mean drinking more than you want to. As more venues cater to drinkers and non-drinkers alike, there are ways to help that go beyond ordering another round.
Offering ideas to bring new audiences through the door can make a real difference. Quiz nights, sober socials, daytime events, and community meetups all help pubs stay relevant and welcoming. “By reimagining what a pub night looks like, we can help ensure pubs remain relevant, inclusive spaces for everyone,” a BBPA spokesperson said.
So before you say a dramatic goodbye to your local, the one with the peeling walls and questionable memories, it might be worth asking how it could evolve instead. Pubs have survived wars, recessions, and decades of questionable decor. With a little help, they might survive this too.