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.

Numbers of pubs and bars are declining, but there are still thousands out there. You're a bit premature.

You must live in a shit hole

Many pubs are closing though

OP
We are really lucky that the pubs in our area are all restaurants too…and all good.
All are open from morning for coffee and breakfast right through to the nighttime.
We would hate for them to die out. They are a massive asset to our community. And are visited from every demographic.

Many of those "old boys" would otherwise be drinking at home alone without a community around them. People tend to drink heavily because they're depressed and/or in pain. You're mixing up cause and effect. Incidentally, my local is a bit like this, and I really worry about the patrons and staff for when it inevitably gets residential planning permission.

This. Pubs are really, really not thriving. It’s been a conversation for years how many pubs are closing!

Yes because what we really need in the UK right now is more business going under and more job losses.

well if you go in with an attitude like that, not sure it’s not being born here that’s the problem.

I work in substance misuse and have done for ten years. Hardly any alcohol dependent people are if retired age. Most have passed away by th time they reach 65 sadly

I agree, OP. Not insignificant chunks of the economy shutting down is always a good thing. The boost in unemployment figures alone would be worth it.

Pubs have suffered massively since Covid times, perhaps before though I don’t know much about that. They have picked up slightly since Covid for obvious reasons, but the business model isn’t profitable as others have rightly commented. This is generally not a good a thing.

As for the OP, you might not like pubs, but there are lots in the country that have genuinely great atmospheres. Also, there are a lot of people who go there that are younger, not just retired people.

Where would they meet? In the thousands of community centres which have closed? Or the local shops? Which have closed? Or in libraries that are closing at a rate because they are not statutory services.

Why do you think everyone who goes to a pub is a pisshead? I regularly stay at a community-owned pub in north Wales when I go up there for work. They have bingo and a community choir. All sober and nice people. You’re as bad as the OP assuming that all pubs are dens of iniquity. And as I said before, many keep pensioners warm and fed during winter for next to nothing.

You have no clue of what is happening on the ground. I work in communities and your view is one-eyed.

What is happening to the empty buildings and are the jobs lost being replaced?

All three of our local pubs have gone, two mysteriously caught fire and one 'fell down' over a bank Holiday weekend.
All now been replaced with housing, unfortunately not even any at affordable prices for the younger locals to purchase.

That’s mad! Just because you clearly don’t enjoy them, why would you dictate that others shouldn’t have enjoyment? Obviously there are people who have an alcohol problem who visit pubs, but the majority just go there for the social aspect with friends. Especially good for people who live alone and just want company and a chat on an evening. It’s a bit of a red herring about alcohol problems equalling pressure on the NHS. Most alcoholics actually drink at home or on the streets. Not in pubs. We’ve turned into an insular society as it is - wfh, dependent on devices instead of socialising face to face.

I don't think most people who drink to the point where it's going to cause health problems are doing it in pubs - too expensive.

I notice the OP hasn't been back since, throws the hand grenade and fucks off...

Speak for yourself, I’ve just got back from a dog walk a fab couple of wines and a great catch up with friends. Miserable people like you really boil my piss, there are people’s entire livelihoods based in this industry, if you don’t like them stay away but don’t wish any more misery on small businesses.

The ones near me are thriving...

That's just the best, stop off for quick drink doggie can sit by the fire and then make your way home, it's the simple things in life.....,

"Nowadays they're just hovels where mostly retired old boys go to binge drink in the daytime and cost the NHS billions"
Now tell us what do you like about Clacton.

This is really unlikely. If so your area is some weirdly anomaly in 15 years of steady then rapid decline. Just a had a quick google and 8 pubs a week close down in the uk.

I strongly believe that the smoking indoors ban has played a massive part in the decline in the pub trade. I'm no longer a smoker but personally I have no issue with anyone smoking around me. I think the ban was the start of the end for the pub trade sadly.

Nope they are, sorry to upset you!

I'm not in the slightest upset but don’t believe you have any evidence that pubs in your area are thriving as they aren’t anywhere and a quick google would confirm that. You’ve probably just seen a new one open or something.

I agree - and I worked in inadequately ventilated pubs a lot of the time. It’s not yhd only factor, but it really didn’t help. If one is regularly going into a boozer then cigarette smoke is that least of one’s worries.