Deprived areas see greatest pub losses, finds study

The study, which used data from between 2003 and 2013 from CGA Strategy and Nielsen, divided England’s postcodes into five groups based on levels of social deprivation* and looked at the number of outlets selling alcohol within a 1km radius of those postcodes.

It found that there was a 30% reduction in pubs, bars and clubs located within 1km of England’s most socially deprived postcodes over the 10-year period. These included areas within Tower Hamlets, Oldham and West Bromwich.

The same group of postcodes saw a 23% rise in off-trade outlets within 1km.

Research fellow at the University of Sheffield and co-author of the report Colin Angus said that the gap between affordability of alcohol in pubs and off-trade outlets was a contributing factor to the trends.

“That gap is ever growing and has been exacerbated by taxation changes,” he added.

The reduction in pubs, bars and clubs was most pronounced in the most socially deprived postcodes, but there was also a 3% reduction in pubs in both the second and third most deprived postcode groups.

In the least deprived areas, including towns such as Guildford, Woking and St Albans, there was a 4% increase in nearby pubs between 2003 and 2013, while off-trade outlets in the same areas increased by 47%.

“It isn't only people living in the most deprived areas who are sensitive to prices. A substantial increase in the availability of cheap alcohol through off-trade outlets is likely to impact on pubs wherever they may be located,” Angus said commenting on the results for the least deprived postcodes.

The study was part of broader research by the university looking at the relationship between the availability of alcohol and health outcomes.

*Social deprivation was measured using the index of multiple deprivation, which is the Government’s preferred method.