When most true locals are truly struggling to survive it's Christmas time that normally keeps them going over winter. Most pubs are quiet enough come January and February without people promoting the non use of them.I spend disproportionately more time and money in pubs in December. Can business owners really not come up with a budget that deals with seasonal fluctuations?
Don't know what you do but it's like a massive campaign deliberately aimed at hurting your business through no fault of your own. I doubt you would take to lightly to it.