More than 7,000 pubs are expected to go bankrupt in the coming year, according to a shock poll

More than 7,000 pubs are expected to go bankrupt in the coming year, according to shocking polls.

Four in five have seen their profits plummet because they have fewer customers, the survey found.

To make matters worse, 97 percent are faced with higher bills.

As a result, 16 percent of pubs, equivalent to 7,248 out of 45,300 in Britain, say they are likely to close in the next twelve months.

The gloomy forecast will increase pressure on Chancellor Jeremy Hunt to cut liquor duty on all alcohol in next month's Budget.

The poll of 200 pubs across Britain by Survation for the UK Spirits Alliance found that 83 percent of pubs believed this would boost their sales.

But it comes after the Treasury received official estimates showing there is only £13bn of room for tax cuts, compared to £24bn at the start of the year.

Stephen Russell, co-founder of Copper Rivet Distillery and spokesperson for the UKSA, said: “We are devastated that so many pubs are at risk of closure, and they need better support from policymakers across the board.”

Meanwhile, Neema Rai, founder and owner of London's Tamesis Dock and Battersea Barge floating pubs, said: “To support the current rise and transformation of pubs and bars, the Government must support the spirits sector and get behind the world-renowned hospitality industry of Great Britain stand.

“In the Budget, together with distillers, we are urging the Chancellor to support a duty cut on spirits.”

The Sun can reveal that pubs struggling to stay open are now also being hit with huge bills to go green.