'7,500 pubs to close by 2012'One in eight pubs face closure in the next four years due to "irresponsible" supermarket competition and the economic downturn, a leading beer group said.
The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) claim that 7,500 pubs will be forced to cease trading by the end of 2012.
The group has written to Chancellor Alistair Darling asking for tax cuts for pubs and a minimum price per unit of alcohol to stop supermarkets selling it at a loss.
CAMRA chief executive Mike Benner said: "Action to support pubs in the Pre Budget Report, next Monday, is essential in order to prevent a bloodbath of pub closures following the traditionally busy Christmas trading period.
"This year's increase in beer tax has forced publicans to increase beer prices, making visiting the pub less affordable for hard pressed consumers.
"To ensure pub going remains affordable the government must commit to a freeze on beer tax while they consider a reduced rate of tax on beer sold in pubs."
He added supermarket discount deals were 'utterly irresponsible'.
He said: "They are ripping the heart out of community life by closing pubs."
The British Beer and Pub Association said an average of 36 pubs closed every week in the first half of this year, a steep rise from the 27 per week recorded in 2007.
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