Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
#1
I think we mentioned on another thread how tax is affecting spend and growth, items particularly affected by taxes are beer and fags. Latest figures on beer sales show a considerable fall for the three months to June, in comparison to the same period last year. Sales are down 10%. Quite a fall.
These are general beer sales...not just affecting pubs but supermarkets too. The fall comes right across the board.
In three years the tax on beer has risen by 35%. I myself dont see how any business can sustain that level of taxation and still thrive. We will probably see job losses.. unless well known local forumite consumers can up their intake!! Despite a Royal Wedding as a boost to consumption and warm spring weather beer sales still experienced the aforementioned fall. All is doom for the beer business.
Ed Balls said today that the VAT at 20% is also to blame, its an economic recovery killer..we have seen the abysmal growth figures spun very well by George Osborne on the lunchtime news but how can anyone spin a dismal 0.2% growth as anything other than dismal. Even the much maligned Eurozone is way ahead of this.
Balls feels the 20% vat has stopped people spending and has called for a reduction in the level.
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
#2
paulb,what do you expect,a pint of larger £3.60p a pint,£2.40 in the railway club.and oh yes £6.50p for a packet of fags.
Guest 644- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,214
#3
Exactly so - it's getting to the pint where a tenner will get you three pints or less in most pubs. It's just getting too expensive to go out regularly. I find I deliberately drink slowly now just because of the cost. There's just less money everywhere, it's usually not the landlord's fault but the breweries sting them for every penny they can. The private clubs and the large corporate pubs are cheaper, but it's the small local establishments that are suffering as they have no choice but to charge these exhorbitant prices.
Still, it's usually worth the extra 30p to talk the same conversation with old Albert in his corner seat about the lack of respect of the youth of today, the state of Dover, problems with the police, smoking in pubs and so on every single time without fail.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#4
i was surprised at the general drop, the pub bit i expected due issues outlined above.
would have thought that in these austere times people would have used the supermarkets for getting their beer, no substitute for a good pub but the prices are getting beyond many people's pockets.
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,931
#5
I think a lot of drinkers are gradually switching to cider and wine. With regard to pubs, breweries and successive governments are slowly killing the trade with their greed.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Guest 719- Registered: 11 Jul 2011
- Posts: 443
#6
i am lucky if i go to the pub because of what they charge for a pint
Yorkshire Born And Yorkshire Bred
Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
#7
My wife always finds it amusing when there's an old documentary or film on tv and a pub scene shows it heaving to the rafters. But thats how it was. Finish work on a Friday and straight to the boozer .Especially the manual and factory workers of the north.
I wonder what in real terms the price of a pint is say compared to the 70's or 80's? I must admit we always seemed to have enough spare cash for a few beers in those days.
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#8
i don't remember going to the pub as being a special treat like it is now, would be interesting to see what the real price comparison works out at.
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
#9
In 1970 in Canterbury, a pint of Master Brew Bitter at the Bishops Finger in St Dunstan's was 1/9. Large Cod and small chips at Harry Baker's by the level crossing was 1/6.
Now a pint of bitter in Blakes is £2.80 while large cod n small chips next door is £5.10.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
#10
In 1970 I started working for NatWest in London; I was 22 years old and my salary was £60 per week, but the job I had just left was paying £11.00 a week - no contest on where I should go.
As a Councillor, my pay hasn't gone up from my 1970 salary, thank goodness for my (Natwest) pension.
Roger
