Younger people staying away from pubs

The number of 18 to 24-year-olds visiting pubs at least once a week has fallen from 38% to 16% in the past seven years, according to real ale campaign group Camra.

During this time over 8,000 pubs have closed across the UK, with campaigners blaming higher taxes on beer.

Camra said one in two regular pub goers now prefer to drink at home because it is cheaper, highlighting a 42% rise in beer tax since 2008.

The study was based on 1,000 adults including almost 150 aged between 18 and 24.

Camra, which is holding its annual Great British Beer Festival in London, said that despite the falling numbers of youngsters going to pubs, more young people are trying real ale, especially women.

Mike Benner, Camra’s chief executive, said: “Hard working publicans have been hammered by the Government in recent times and what we’ve seen in the past seven years is that young adults in particular have been priced out of an affordable night down their local pub.

“The Government have encouraged people to use their pubs as community assets, yet this is a hollow message when punitive increases on the price of a pint have meant that consumers are deterred from visiting their local, causing beer sales figures in this country to fall flat.”

Also revealed in the study is that in the past four years, the number of women who say they have tried “proper” bitter has doubled and 50% more young adults have given real ale a try.