Something Else To Bugger Our Few Pubs

This kind of thing annoys me
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-43427887

I notice that although 7000 pubs closed in the period mentioned, there are 50,000 pubs still trading,
Imagine how many beer outlets must have closed in the last hundred and fifty years, since the period when every corner had a pub and every other house was a beer retailer?

It might be more a case of market forces due to supply and demand than taxation. All businesses are taxed and there has always been duty on beer so nothing much has changed on the supply side.
It's demand that fell. When most of a local population are non drinkers the pub isn't going to be very busy.
Almost every traditional pub in my immediate area has closed, I can name 12 with little effort.

Yes of course there has always been taxes. Especially on Beer, One of my biggest fears are drug pushers using pubs. Once a pub gets known for drugs, there isn't much that can save it, most decent people give it a wide berth there is always the danger of violence to go with it.
It seems hard to remember all the old local pubs most of which most people could use in safety. When the manager told people to behave the majority did behave. Usually without stabbing someone or shooting them.

And there was a lot of loyalty among the regulars, so peer pressure or the gaffers minders would usually sort things out.

Just blame the lazy sods who buy cans to drink in front of the tell, it's their choice stay at home and save money or keep your local open, if you don't use it you lose it. I don't go to a pub anymore at night, but I don't drink cans at home either.

Bottles are better.

Not if you drop the shopping bag