More evidence of the decline in the quality of rural life emerged today. Not one but three North Yorkshire village pubs are set to close for good.

The Alice Hawthorne in Wheldrake, near York, has closed. The Half Moon Inn at Acklam, near Malton, may be converted into a house. And the Winning Post Inn at Alne, near Easingwold, may be demolished.

The demise of these three pubs is part of a much larger trend. North Yorkshire has lost dozens in recent years, to restaurant conversions and housing developments. All have served their communities for many years, boasting centuries of tradition that can never be replaced.

Many factors are eroding the sustainability of the rural pub. Our habits are changing. We visit the pub less often and drink less while we are there.

Part of that trend must be blamed on the expense of pub-going. The price of a round is too high.

Many people are choosing to forego the pub atmosphere and drink at home, because it pays them to do so.

And thousands of people are taking up the chance to bring back unlimited supplies of alcohol from France. No wonder: with French beer duty at about 5p a pint compared to 33p a pint in Britain, it is considerably cheaper.

While the Chancellor at last recognised this inequity by freezing beer duty in last month's Budget, another of his policies has placed a different burden on rural pubs. The hike in diesel duty will increase transport costs, adding to the price of a beer.

But the big breweries that cry 'foul' at such an uneven playing field need to address their own approach. While happy to pump millions into large theme pubs aimed at the young city drinker, they have not been so eager to support the less profitable, smaller country pubs.

Ministers have failed to recognise the scale of the problems facing Britain's countryside.

The lack of public transport is the biggest single obstacle to a rural revival. That certainly hinders village pubs whose trade has been hit by the tough drink-driving laws.

The Government can help the cause by reducing beer duty and improving public transport.

Breweries should cut their own prices, particularly on non-alcoholic drinks.

And the publicans themselves may need to follow the example of the farmers, and diversify.

A village pub that opens for breakfast and doubles as the local store will be better protected from the whims of the drinker than one that relies on wet sales alone.

see NEWS 'Traditional rural pubs may call time for good'

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