The leader of a lobby group calling for government action to save pubs has given his backing to The Publican's minimum price campaign.
The South Norfolk Task Group, chaired by Cllr Keith Weeks, has sent a plan to save rural pubs to John Grogan MP, chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group.
The plans calls for minimum pricing to stop loss leading promotions in supermarkets. The idea is the same as the Make it the Minimum campaign which is asking for a minimum price of 50p per unit of alcohol to help pubs compete against cut price deals.
"I have no hesitation in backing The Publican's campaign," said Cllr Weeks. "It is easy for underage children to buy alcohol from supermarkets and off licences because they tend to be cheaper.
"These youngsters are nowhere near pubs but the industry still gets blamed."
The plan was devised after South Norfolk councillors held crisis talks with local publicans following a spate of pub closures in the area, including the iconic 500 year old Wymondham Cross Keys.
"We can have no greater indication of the severity of publicans' situation than the closure of the historic Cross Keys in Wymondham. It is not just the loss of jobs, although that is serious enough, it is the loss of a way of life," added Cllr Weeks
In addition to minimum pricing the letter calls for beer duty to be cut or frozen until Britain comes out of recession, permission for councils to decide which pubs get business rates relief, and for pubs to be allowed to recycle glass at bottle banks.
So far more than 500 people have signed the Make it the Minimum online petition and hundreds more have contacted The Publican direct to voice their support.
For more information visit www.thepublican.com/makeitheminimum and Sign our petition