A record number of pubs are closing every week in Britain, highlighting the "extreme" economic pressures facing the industry, new figures have showed.
A total of 39 pubs are shutting every week, three more than last year, including 19 in suburbs, eight in town centres and the rest in rural areas, the British Beer and Pub Association said.
The group, which represents the brewing and pub industry, criticised the Government over increases in beer taxes and millions of pounds of extra costs in red tape.
Rob Hayward, the association's chief executive, said: "With pubs closing at a record rate and job losses escalating, it is truly staggering that the Government is proposing to hit the sector with a £300 million bill for extra red tape this year alone.
"In fact, the Government openly state they believe that their new regulations will lead to more pub closures and job losses.
"Pub closures are a clear demonstration of the extreme financial and economic pressures facing the sector.
"At this time of deepening recession and rising unemployment, the Government should be actively looking at ways to support the community asset of the pub.
"They should not be introducing legislation that will condemn more pubs to closure and put more people out of work."
The association said 44,000 jobs had been lost in the industry in the past couple of years, warning that 59,000 could be axed.
Almost 2,000 pubs closed last year, 600 more than in 2007, the report said.
