Commenting on the first anniversary of the change in the drink drive laws in Scotland, Brigid Simmonds Chief Executive of the Scottish Beer & Pub Association, said:
“We welcome any reduction in drink driving, but there is no doubt that the changes have put pressure on pubs, particularly in rural areas.
“We would like both the UK and the Scottish Governments to help pubs in other ways, with strong support for further reductions in beer duty during this Parliament, and tackling the huge business rates burden faced by community and high street pubs, including further extension of the Small Business Bonus Scheme, and support for a new rate of VAT on pub and restaurant meals.