More than 70% of UK pubs ‘may not survive winter’ unless government intervenes in rising energy prices

• In the UK, more than 70% of pub owners fear they won’t survive the winter.
• Nearly two-thirds of business owners say their utility bills have at least doubled.
• Employers are calling on the government to cut taxes and cap energy costs.

The face of traditional British pubs may change dramatically next spring.

According to a Morning Advertiser survey reported by The Guardian, more than 70% of pubs surveyed believe they won’t be able to survive the winter if nothing is done to curb rising utility bills.

Pub owners report that some suppliers will refuse to provide them with electricity or gas, fearing they will not be able to pay their bills. More than 35% of pub owners said their utility bills had doubled, and another 30% said their utility bills had tripled, The Guardian reported.

The concerns were raised by British independent brewers who wrote to Chancellor Zahawi, citing soaring energy prices, declining sales due to household frugality, and shortages of barrels, cans and carbon dioxide, calling for government intervention. It also matches the movement.

Poor hop crops are also driving prices higher, according to The Guardian.

Brewers and pub owners, among others, are calling for lower VAT and business rates, energy caps for small businesses and subsidies for renewable technology.

Heath Ball, managing director of the Frisco Group, which owns three pubs in England, told The Guardian that pubs face a “worst case scenario”.

Unfortunately, this winter comes after a historically hot and dry summer. A recent report from the European Commission Joint Research Center (JRC) showed that 47% of Europe experienced drought “alert” conditions in early August, while 17% were living in “alert” conditions.

[Original:Nearly3outof4Britishpubownersdon’tthinktheirbusinesseswillsurvivethewinter— unless the government steps up to fight rising energy costs]

(Translated and edited by Yoshimi Yamaguchi)