Beer sales decreased by more than 8 per cent during the last three months of 2008, according to figures released by the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA), the highest fourth quarter fall since records began.

The BBPA's UK Quarterly Beer Barometer revealed that 2.2 million fewer pints were sold compared with the same period in 2007, while sales in pubs, bars and restaurants decreased by nearly 10 per cent. Rob Hayward, BBPA chief executive, said: "These figures highlight the extreme economic pressures hitting Britain's beer and pub sector. Beer sales are sinking and many pubs are struggling to survive.

"Unfortunately, the government's tax policy is only making a difficult situation worse. Due to the government's tax escalator and VAT policy, we are facing two further tax increased this year alone. By 2012, the tax on your pint of beer will have increased by up to 40 per cent from February 2008." Sales in supermarkets also fell, with a decrease of 6.5 per cent compared with 2007 figures, and is the second successive quarterly fall in the off-trade.