Analysis by the Scottish Beer & Pub Association has shown that 62 Scottish pubs closed during the first nine months of 2026.
The closures – an average of one pub lost every four-and-a-half days – cost the country an estimated 585 jobs, including 330 held by under-25s, and more than £6 million in tax revenue.
Highlighting those figures, the SBPA urged both the UK and Scottish Governments to use their upcoming Budgets to back pubs and prevent further closures damaging local economies, employment and communities across Scotland.
Chief executive of the Scottish Beer & Pub Association, Emma McClarkin, said: “When a local pub closes, the impact is felt far beyond its front door. Communities lose a valued gathering place, workers lose jobs and governments lose tax revenue.
“In Scotland alone, 62 pubs have closed in just nine months, costing 585 jobs and more than £6 million in tax receipts.
“These figures should serve as a wake-up call,” said McClarkin. “Pubs want to invest, grow and continue supporting their communities, but many are being pushed to the limit by rising costs and an unsustainable tax burden.
“As we approach both the UK Budget and the Scottish Budget, governments have an opportunity to back one of Scotland’s most important community assets,” she said.
“The UK Government should build on its support for the sector by freezing beer duty, increasing draught relief, reviewing employment costs for under-25s, and reducing VAT, while the Scottish Government should increase business rates relief for pubs and remove the £110,000 per business cap on that support.
“Without meaningful action, we risk seeing more pubs close, more jobs lost and more communities deprived of the economic and social value that pubs provide.”
