35 million less pints brought this Summer compared last year (Picture: Getty Images)

Boozy Britain might be losing its taste for beer.

For some reason, Brits drank 35 million fewer pints this summer compared to last year, prompting fears pubs will continue to close.

Pubs and bars 'could close next week' as Boris Johnson urged 'act now'

The British Beer and Pub Association revealed there was a fall of 3.6% in the three months to September compared with the same quarter last year – a fall of 3.6%, said.

People are likely drinking at home instead, and the trade organisation warned pubs would continue to close down across the country if action was not taken, blaming ‘sky high’ business rates.


Chief executive Brigid Simmonds said: ‘When the Government was cutting or freezing beer duty from 2013-15, sales of British beer stabilised, after years of steep decline.



‘With sales down this quarter, following the Budget tax hike, urgent action from the chancellor is needed.

The popularity of gin has impacted on beer sales (Picture: Getty)

‘Beer has had a 39% tax rise in the past decade. With tax rates 14 times higher than in Germany, these levels are unsustainable.’

She added: ‘We need fair taxes for British beer, so that brewers and pub operators can invest in thriving pubs, and take advantage of new opportunities to export more beer around the world as we leave the EU.’

After Gordon Brown changed the tax levels on craft beer there was a boom in new breweries, however, last year was the first that Britons drank more spirits than beer, thanks in part to the new popularity of gin.

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