The number of pubs in the UK has declined year on year, at least since 1982. Various reasons are put forward for this, such as the failure of some establishments to keep up with customer requirements. Others claim the smoking ban of 2007, intense competition from gastro-pubs, the availability of cheap alcohol in supermarkets or the general economic climate are either to blame, or are factors in the decline. Changes in demographics may be an additional factor. COUNT 4
QSN1 When was a smoking ban passed in the United Kingdom? ANS1 2007 QSN2 In what year did the number of United Kingdom pubs generally start to decline? ANS2 1982 QSN3 Competition from what new form of establishment is sometimes blamed for the decline of pubs? ANS3 gastro-pubs QSN4 What business that sells cheap alcohol has sometimes been held to have resulted in the decline of pubs? ANS4 supermarkets