JULIA HAS A PINT TO SUPPORTS LOCAL PUBS DURING "PROUD OF PUBS" WEEK

12.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 14th Jul 2009

Local MP Julia Goldsworthy will be raising a glass on Friday in support of local pubs as part of "Proud of Pubs" week. She will pay a visit to two pubs in her constituency - Tyack's in Camborne and The Countryman in Piece - to join regulars for a pint and chat to staff.

She said it was important for people to remember the positive role pubs play in our local communities, and urged people to go out and support them.

Julia said: "Pubs play a vital role in local communities, and it's important that we all support them. In many places, particularly rural areas, there is no longer a post office, shop or meeting place - but the presence of the local pub means there is still a sense of community.

"I believe it is important to speak up for the positive role our local pubs have in modern life, and I would urge people to go and visit their local pub this week."

Last week Julia voted in support of amendments to the Finance Bill, tabled by the Liberal Democrats which would have cancelled the Government's proposed "beer duty escalator." The Conservatives failed to support the amendment, which was then defeated by the government.

Julia said that the Government's policies were crippling the pub trade.

She said: "Ministers are penalising people for drinking in pubs, when many of the problems caused by excessive alcohol consumption can be traced back to the availability of cheap booze in supermarkets.

"Rather than penalising people for drinking in their pub, the Government should be using the alcohol duty system to create a level playing field for pubs, so that they can compete with supermarkets. They could do this by having different duties for alcohol purchased for on and off premises consumption.

"That might go some way to holding on to these vital institutions that are so important to our local communities."