Publicans are pulling a third fewer pints than they did a decade ago as Britons cut down on visits to their locals in favour of enjoying their favourite tipples at home.

Beer sales in pubs, bars and restaurants fell 9.9 per cent for the three months to the end of December, according to figures published on Tuesday by the British Beer & Pub Association. The decline, equivalent to 1.4m fewer pints per day, is the second highest quarterly fall since records began in 1997.