The "Pub Decline" in the UK Isn't Due to the Youth: How Queue Systems, Non-Alcoholic Options, and Price Increases Are Changing the Future of Social Venues

1. The "Social Venue" is Shaking

British pubs have been the neighborhood bulletin board and a "life infrastructure" where life milestones are shared with a toast. The number of pubs was about 100,000 in the early 20th century, but it decreased to 64,000 in 1990, 55,400 in 2010, and is expected to drop to 45,000 by 2024. There is also an estimate that in 2025, more than **"one pub will close per day."** The impact on employment and the regional economy is significant.Newsweek Japan Official Site

The reasons for the decline are not simple. High prices and energy costs, business taxes and alcohol taxes, waste regulations, and labor costs—accumulated fixed costs consume the revenue. The industry group BBPA appeals to the government for tax reductions and business tax reforms, but the margins on the ground remain thin.The Guardian

2. Is "Young People's Decline in Drinking" Really an Enemy?

In the past 10 to 20 years, the frequency of drinking among young people has clearly decreased. In central London, Marylebone, a pub called "Lucky Saint" that prominently features low and non-alcoholic drinks has emerged, and it is reported that about 15% of in-store sales are non-alcoholic. "Dry January," once a month of abstinence, has become a year-round behavior. The change in drinking preferences is not merely an "enemy" but also a new market.Newsweek Japan Official Sitecityam.com

3. The Coffee Shop Style "Single Queue" as "Psychological Design"

In traditional pubs during busy times, customers line up side by side at the counter, and the barman skillfully determines "who's next." However, more young people and tourists feel more at ease standing in line, leading some pubs to try the **"single queue" system. There was even a case where a major chain displayed signs, but it faced backlash from regulars who said, "This is not a pub but a school cafeteria,"** leading some pubs to retract the trial.Newsweek Japan Official Site

Public opinion is divided.40% prefer the single queue, while 39% prefer the traditional method, according to a YouGov survey, reflecting a divergence in values. The social habit of "lining up and keeping distance" established post-COVID, the spread of app orders, and the concept of "reducing psychological burden" as UX (User Experience) thinking support the queue.Newsweek Japan Official Site

4. The "Final Hurdle" of Price

We have entered an era where the average pint costs over 5 pounds, and in central London, some pubs charge nearly 10 pounds. The casual "round" (buying in bulk) hits household budgets hard, and the sensation of "jumping up after paying for five people" has been repeatedly discussed in the news. Rising prices especially deter the young and low-income groups.Newsweek Japan Official Site

5. What Did Social Media Reflect: How to Gather Voices

On X (formerly Twitter) and Reddit, the discussion converges on three main points.

• Cultural Faction (Anti-Single Queue): Voices wanting to preserve the "unspoken understanding," saying, "A pub is not a supermarket" and "A good barman knows who's next." The lament that **"lining up takes away the atmosphere"** is also prominent.X (formerly Twitter)

• Fairness Faction (Pro-Single Queue): Appreciating the psychological safety, saying, "Not influenced by pushiness" and "Less fighting over turns, more peace of mind." The spread of YouGov data, showing a **40% vs. 39%** split, serves as supporting evidence.X (formerly Twitter)

• Practical Faction (Voices from the Field): Many operational opinions from bartenders, such as "A single queue becomes a long line and blocks the flow" and "Calling out 'who's next' is faster." The realistic conclusion is that the "optimal solution varies" depending on the city, time, and number of staff.Reddit

On Reddit threads, there are repeated observations that "queues became the norm during the COVID period" and "neither young staff nor customers know the 'old implicit knowledge'", revealing a generational experience gap.Reddit

6. How Should Pubs be "Redesigned"?

(1) Price Transparency and "Selectable" Drinking Options
Expanding low and non-alcoholic options, offering half-pints and shareable options, and lunch-only pricing create an entrance for the younger generation with **"small trial" pricing design. If non-alcoholic options become a "permanent choice,"** it won't spoil the experience for companions.cityam.com

(2) Dual-Layered UX During Busy Times
Simultaneously operate table order lanes using apps or tabletop QR codes and the traditional side-by-side counter lanes. Clearly indicate **"the etiquette of this pub" at the entrance sign, and staff manage turns with a "call-in style." Queues become shorter and multi-lane, creating a division where "lining up is reassuring for beginners, side-by-side is the rhythm for regulars."**

(3) Time-Specific "Roles of the Pub"
During the day, it serves as a cafe/co-working space, in the evening as a social venue, and at night as a live/community space. The coffee shop style is already spreading in the UK, making the **"coffee by day, pint by night"** dual-use model realistic.Newsweek Japan Official Site

(4) Visualization of Policy Commitment
The review of business and alcohol taxes demanded by BBPA is reasonable from the perspective of regional employment. There could also be a framework where local governments support **"historical pubs that should be preserved"** as cultural assets.The Guardian

7. Learning from "What is Common in Japan"

The keyword of the article is **"the method that is common in Japan" = single queue. The queuing that is natural in Japanese cafes and convenience stores has functioned as the shortest path to fairness and peace of mind. However, if the "context of the place"** is ignored, it will erode British pub culture. Using the tool of "queuing" according to time of day, store status, and customer composition—that is the compromise solution.Newsweek Japan Official Site

8. Conclusion—Changing While Preserving

The pace of closures is severe. However, if the permanent establishment of non-alcoholic options, dual-layered ordering experience, price redesign, and policy support are aligned, pubs can **"change while preserving."** With designs that lower the "hurdle of the first drink" and "psychological burden during busy times," there is still a large space for young people to return without strain. How to redesign pubs as social devices—the UK's trial and error is also an experiment for the global food and beverage industry.The Guardian

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References and Sources (Key Facts)

• Masato Kimura "The Serious 'Pub Exodus' in the UK..." Newsweek Japan (2025/10/25) — Local reports on the transition of store numbers, trials and pros and cons of the single queue, price perceptions, etc.Newsweek Japan Official Site

• BBPA's 2025 closure outlook (about 378 pubs = more than 1 per day) reported by The Guardian and others.The Guardian

• YouGov (2025/9/18) **Single Queue 40% / Traditional Method 39%** public opinion survey.yougov.co.uk

• The rise of non-alcoholic drinks and the case of Lucky Saint (about 15% of store sales are non-alcoholic).cityam.com##HTML