While youngsters binge drink on cheap supermarket alcohol, pubs are being run close to ruin by the greed of their big-business owners.

Just weeks after it was revealed that five Littlehampton pubs had been forced to close, Worthing landlord Bob Brookes has hit out at the desperate situation facing publicans. JOHN BENNETT reports.

A pub landlord is calling for Government action to force supermarkets and off-licences to raise the "ridiculously low" prices of alcohol they sell.

Bob Brookes wants to see price controls to help struggling pubs stave off closure and to curb binge drinking.

The licensee of the Half Brick in Brighton Road, east Worthing, also thinks there should be a Government review of the profits of "greedy" pub chains charging high prices for beer as well as "swingeing"

rents.

Mr Brookes, 59, said: "I've never known so many landlords say We're in trouble'. The trade is in a dire state - the worst I've seen."

He said he knew of six pubs in east Worthing and Lancing alone with leases up for sale.

He blames the smoking ban for a 15 per cent drop in trade at his own pub but said there had been a total reduction of 25 per cent over the past three years.

Some landlords in the area were quoting overall falls of 30 per cent.

His comments reflect the situation nationally. Pub beer sales have slumped to a record low. In the 1970s, 90 per cent of beer was drunk in pubs, compared with only 58 per cent now.

The British Beer and Pubs Association has called for a freeze on beer duty in an attempt to increase sales. Last week The Argus highlighted the problem in Littlehampton where five pubs have closed, although one has since reopened.

Mr Brookes said: "The supermarkets are selling their beer at almost cost so they can get people in to buy groceries.

"This is what is causing binge drinking. It's not the fault of the pubs that there are drinking problems in the streets.

"The main problem is with the high-strength lager being sold so cheaply. Kids are buying it or irresponsible 18-year-olds are buying it for kids of 14 or whatever.

"We know the people who cause trouble in the community and we are better able to police it than the supermarkets, off-licences or anyone else."

His rent at the seafront Half Brick is £52,000 a year.

He is tied into Punch Taverns, the pub chain that owns the premises, and is not allowed to buy beer from anyone else or to have a guest beer.

He said: "Otherwise I could go to any company and pay £60 for an 11- gallon keg. The same sized keg from Punch is between £96 and £106. A large can of Carlsberg - just short of a pint - costs 50p or 60p in supermarkets but I have to charge £2.70 for a draught pint of it. If I sell it for any less it would be at a loss."

Mr Brookes said the Half Brick had survived so far because of the music gigs staged there four nights a week.

"It's only the music that's keeping us afloat. If we lost the entertainments licence we would be finished.

"I am worried I may go out of business. We only need to be in a cashflow deficit for a very short period of time and that could happen."

The straight-talking publican doesn't hold back when referring to the pub chains, including his own.

"They are not at all sympathetic.

They don't take account of the drop in trade and they are breaking landlords. How much profit do they want to make?

"We are struggling because of the amount of profits that need to be made to satisfy Punch and the other companies.

"Last year we had three beer price rises but I could only pass on one. Beer can only go up so much before people stop coming in."

Bob said the Government should impose minimum price controls for beer on supermarkets and offlicences.

He added: "If we are going to survive, the Government also needs to look at the profit margins of the large pub chains."

Punch Taverns plc, which has more than 8,400 leased and managed pubs, made a pre-tax profit of £282 million last year - an increase of 13 per cent.

Its spokeswoman said: "We do make it clear to all potential licensees exactly what the costs of beer will be before they sign any agreement.

"Their business plans, which they research and develop themselves, are based on these figures.

"Beer prices are based on the national wholesale price and discounted according to the type of lease or tenancy.

"We are passionate about pubs and recognise that, as an industry, we need to do more to get people excited about their local pub. People can enjoy the atmosphere of a great pub and the sense of community that brings with it."

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