Farage slams po-faced Starmer’s new drink drive limit as ‘a death knell for country pubs’
In the heart of Britain’s countryside, a quiet crisis brews as rural pubs face an uncertain future. The latest policy changes could spell the end.
Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader, said: (Image: Getty)
Pubs are facing a new assault under Labour’s plans to cut the drink-driving limit in England and Wales. Ministers are considering aligning the rules with Scotland, where just one drink can put a driver over the limit. The proposal, set to be announced on Wednesday, is the latest move by the Government that threatens pubs, following increases in business rates, the minimum wage, and employers’ National Insurance, which have brought some pubs to the brink of closure.
The new measure will particularly impact rural premises, which rely on customers driving. On average, one pub closed each day in 2025 , and almost 2,000 have closed for good over the past five years. Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader, said: “This is a death knell for country pubs across Britain. Labour has no connection to how real life works.”
The British Beer and Pub Association warned of the harm the move would cause to rural pubs in areas without public transport or reliable taxi services. A spokesman told The Telegraph: “The pub sector continues to face huge challenges, so any additional policy measures that further impact trade will be of real concern to licensees, especially those in rural areas.”
Jonathan Neame, chief executive of Britain’s oldest brewer Shepherd Neame, said: “When communities lose pubs, they are weaker as a result. I hope the Government sees sense and makes a U-turn. The industry is not going to lie down on this issue. For years, we have been saying that we are overtaxed.”
Publicans demand tax cuts and relief measures
Publicans are demanding measures including a reduction in employer national insurance contributions for hospitality businesses, business rates relief to counter increases planned in April, a cut to VAT, and a freeze on beer duty to reduce costs being passed on to customers.
Labour’s new road safety strategy includes plans to lower the drink-drive limit from 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood, or 35 micrograms per 100ml of breath. Scotland reduced its limit to 50mg of blood alcohol content in 2014 in an attempt to reduce road deaths.
After an initial fall when the tougher drinking limit came in, road deaths in Scotland have been rising again in the past four years and were up by 24 per cent in 2024, according to figures by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland.
The latest move against pubs will be proposed despite landlords being in open revolt after Rachel Reeves announced an overhaul of business rates in her November Budget. A growing backlash over Labour’s attacks on pubs has resulted in MPs being barred from dozens of establishments across Britain, with Ms Reeves banned from her local in Pudsey, West Yorkshire.
Sir Keir Starmer appeared to open the door to support, admitting that many pubs “will struggle” (Image: Getty)
Britain’s roads among safest in Europe despite higher drink-driving limit
The move against pubs and drivers is taking place despite Britain’s roads being some of the safest in Europe. There were 7,763 road deaths in Britain in 1972, compared with 1,602 in 2024. Alcohol-related collisions represent 17 per cent of all deaths on UK roads and account for around 300 deaths each year, compared to 25 per cent in the EU.
On Monday, Sir Keir Starmer appeared to open the door to extra support, admitting that many pubs “will struggle” with new business rate changes and that the Government was “talking to the sector… about what further support we can put in.”
However, The Telegraph understands that the Treasury is blocking new financial support for pubs, despite claims from TV chef Tom Kerridge that Business Secretary Peter Kyle was being “incredibly supportive” on the issue.
