MPs stressed the importance of pubs to the community and outlined the threats that are seeing the number of venues decline during a debate at Westminster yesterday.
Nigel Evans MP, who called the debate, said pubs are "very much at the heart of the community" but are under threat from supermarket alcohol and Government regulations.
The vice chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group said each pub contributes £80,000 a year to the community and £100,000 in taxes, in addition to all the charitable events and special nights that many pubs run regularly.
Labour MP for Selby John Grogan said the pub has a bigger reach that most other institutions, attracting 80% of people throughout each year.
Grogan praised the Campaign for Real Ale's suggestion of extending rate relief to community pubs in suburban areas and small market towns.
He argued that a lower rate of duty on beer "could do as much for pubs in the next Parliament as the lower rate of duty on small brewers has done for the expansion of microbrewers".
Grogan said a reduction in the overall tax on alcohol would be "unlikely". "A rebalancing is needed with spirit tax and duty on cider," he stated.
Andrew Pelling MP said the pubs in his contituency of Croydon are "thriving". He said the fact that people find the money for a drink during a recession "tells of the importance of public houses in difficult times".
However, the main focus of the debate was on the issues surrounding the beer tie.