PUBS are pushing up the prices of beer at peak times as they try to claw back lost profits due to Labour’s tax raid on boozers. And it’s not just London pubs that are charging punters more at peak times. While Stonegate, which has 4,500 pubs around the country, also charges punters more on midweek evenings between 5-7pm and on weekends. Pubs are “desperately trying to serve reasonably priced pints, yet barely any profits are earned,” says CAMRA Pub and Club Campaigns Director Gary Timmins. He added: “These vital community spaces are paying the price of last year’s Budget – a double tax whammy that is closing pubs for good.
