Chancellor Alistair Darling announced the increase to six per cent above inflation, as part of his budget.

It means the cost of beer will rise by 4p a pint, cider 3p a litre and wine 14p a bottle, while spirits will increase by 55p a bottle.

Now many publicans in the area are fearing for their future.

Brian Flynn, director of Behind the Wall in Falkirk, said: "The price increase will have to be passed on to consumer and it's now got to the point that more people are choosing to shop at the supermarkets and drink at home rather than go to their local pub.

"It's just another cost for us to bear. We have had the smoking ban, increases in overheads, along with more and more regulation – so in my view it's another nail in the coffin."

Alex Black, owner of Falkirk's Wheatsheaf Inn, said: "Coming on top of the annual rise in duty, it is going to be very difficult, but we will try to absorb the rise ourselves and pass on the minimum to customers.

"The biggest problem for us will be coping with the extra duty of high gravity beer than the low alcohol ones.

"Overall it's going to have an impact and it doesn't make our jobs any easier."

Graeme Barnes, manager of Weatherspoons in Falkirk, said: "The price increase from the budget took effect from last week and will be in line with those announced.

"I am slightly concerned, but the big worry is that there is another increase in the next Budget, which will drive trade down – and then you will see quite a change.

''We are probably better placed to cope than the independent pubs, as we buy a lot of our stock in bulk which means the price stays lower.''

Bill Wisdom of Central Scotland Licence Trade Association said: "Trade is still recovering from the smoking ban and breweries have already increased their prices – so the budget will just be another crippling increase for licensees.

"The licensed trade is already one of the most regulated in the UK and there seems to be an ethos of clamping down on them. At the end of the day, it's going to be more and more difficult for the smaller independent pubs to survive.''

m.henderson@falkirkherald.co.uk