I'm happy pubs are dying out

[Raymondsam]

In my town at least.

Maybe decades ago the argument could be made that they're social hubs for people to unwind, meet and have a good time on a weekend.

Nowadays they're just hovels where mostly retired old boys go to binge drink in the daytime and cost the NHS billions in the various cancers strokes and host of other comorbidities that crop up.

The three biggest ones in my town are the typical chain owned leasehold places. Big companies that own hundreds of pubs all over the country. They treat the leaseholders like crap, if they start to turn a decent profit they up the rent.

Our village has recently lost one of our 3 pubs when the landlord/chef died. It was very much a hub of the village with good beer and good traditional pub food. The Christmas carol singing round the piano was packed. It is sorely missed.

I’m afraid I couldng give less of a shot aboyg mens social life ig I tried. They’re not bothered about women being stuck at home whilst they swan off on their bikes or off to the pub.

Couldng care less.

The point is generally women are more
emotionally intelligent and have been able to adapt with the times. WhatsApp groups, bottomless brunch, etc etc. men are just a bit shit at working it out, and are lonely as a result. As a PP said, loneliness in society costs us all greatly

I am lucky, but there are still half a dozen or so pubs with a 15 minute walk of my home. All good. Quite a few others have closed so I'd hate to lose more.

What a horrible thing to say!

I often pop into the Weatherspoons as their Lavazza coffee is £1.75 (and as many refills as you want) and for many old people these are almost like a community centre, where they can get a hot meal inexpensively. I often share tables and talk to people. Maybe younger people wouldn't feel so socially anxious if they went to the pub more often and socialised. Although, I've also been told by younger people that there are microbreweries were pints are considerably cheaper than the standard £7-8 (central London price)...

YABU!
Town centre chain pubs full of of unemployed day drinking alocoholics are not what people mean when they refer to the traditional British pub,

The local pub is a fantastic thing and definitely a big part of the traditional British way of life. Most won't even be open until at least 5pm!

A thriving local pub is a sign that where you live is a thriving community and a reflection of your communities spirit. It's a place to meet friends and family, somewhere to get a meal when you don't want to cook, somewhere for local societies to meet, for sports teams to celebrate, for family celebrations, somewhere for local bands to perform and build their fanbase, somewhere to meet your neighbours, discuss local issues, make new friends, perhaps take part in the weekly quiz or fund raising night etc. etc.

When your local shuts down it's definitely a negative reflection of your neighbourhood!

People need to stop going to ‘chain’ pubs and support independent businesses

Pubs may be dying out but the fact that some humans ( young and old) will always seek something to alter their minds at times will never change and between drink and drugs I personally think drink is the lesser of the 2 evils…..so if the pubs go where and what will the young people be doing

Also pubs are sometimes the only social outlet some elderly men have who are living alone

Pubs are the centre of village activity, if there's a local disaster the pub is the focal point for locals, some even have a pop up Post office, our local pub has a pizza van and fish & chip van stop by once a week in the car park, it's brilliant!

Its not the 1950s. Plenty of women go out of an evening with friends to a class, an activity, the theatre, a walk. Men tend not to, unless they have a mate who fancies a pint or a game of pool.

Where I live women go to the pub too …

Alcohol should be banned and pubs should be replaced with cannabis cafes.

Eugh, no thanks....

Well aren't you a fun sponge.

Are you running for election, I might vote for that..... tbh even if that were your only policy, you would probably be a better option that the options we have currently!

Misery guts

Good for them. Men disproportionally gave more free time than thrir partners when theres caring responsibilities.

So I’m afraid I couldn't care less about the ‘poor menz’

People across the UK are clubbing together to do community purchases of pubs because they would tear the heart out of (in particular) rural areas if they weren’t there.

Your example of ‘old men’ is bigoted, unfair and frankly ignorant. And not everyone visiting a pub drinks alcohol.

Pubs are warm hubs, they can also be post offices, pharmacy collection points, warm food spots and so much more.

They raise money for charity, they bring together people in isolation, they care about their community - at least the good ones do. You are only seeing what is on your doorstep and making an assumption about everywhere else. No wonder people have responded in the way they have on here.

NRTFT but my local is community-owned and a million miles from your description.

Tomorrow we're going there to the community supper - the menu is published and you can reserve a table. It's great fun. They serve food half the week and it's delicious. On non-food nights they have other events. I popped in for a coffee on Friday morning and saw some of the locals in there playing Scrabble. Lots of them use it as somewhere to socialise. It is the social heart of the village.

What about them? If all the pubs closed down, another way for people to meet and socialise would take their place. That’s what we do. It isn’t joyless to suggest having places where people socialise centred around a substance that is known to cause mental and physical health issues is something we shouldn’t celebrate.

Over 50% of pubs are owned by 9 pub companies. They pay minimum wage for maximum profits. These jobs aren’t the ones we should be protecting.

I agree! Also, I don't even drink alcohol and I love going to the pub. It's not all about booze.

Do you think that if the pubs shut, the old boys will stop drinking, start running 5k a day and eat like an athlete? Or that whoever takes over the premises will run a cooperative non profit business that benefits society?

Quite

3 pubs in a village seems a lot. The other two presumably can still form part of the hub of the village.

Loneliness kills people at the same rate as smoking 20 a day; those ‘old boys’ find the pub to be a lifeline. Such a thoughtless selfish attitude.

I drink more if i am house drinking and I'm sure I'm not unique.
How does that go with your health argument?