Small business insurance holders such as village pubs should be offered more concessions by the government, it has been claimed.
Jon Howard, spokesperson for the Campaign for Real Ale, pointed out that an increasing number of pub insurance customers are closing their doors.
He revealed that his organisation campaigned for beer duty to be frozen in last week's Budget, as a concession for pub insurance holders.
Mr Howard also said the increase in beer duty which was announced will mean the price of a pint will increase by four or five per cent and could result in the profitability of pubs being eroded.
The representative added: "What happens with VAT in the new year will be interesting, whether it goes up even further that could have a further effect on pubs and licensees."
Earlier this week, the British Beer and Pub Association revealed that UK beer sales dropped by 8.2 per cent in the first three months of the year compared to the same period in 2008.
