The Campaign for Real Ale has this morning forecast that as many as one in eight British pubs will disappear within the next four years.

It blames a triple whammy of massive hikes in beer taxes, unfair competition from loss-leading supermarkets and the economic down for the potential loss of up to 7,500 pubs by the end of 2012.

CAMRA has called upon the Chancellor, Alastair Darling, to act immediately by:

• reducing Value Added Tax


• investigating the feasibility of reduced tax on beer sold in pubs


• setting minimum prices for off-sales

CAMRA Chief Executive Mike Benner said: "Action to support pubs in the Pre Budget report, next Monday, is essential in order to prevent a bloodbath of pub closures following the traditionally busy Christmas trading period.

"This year's increase in beer tax has forced publicans to increase beer prices, making visiting the pub less affordable for hard pressed consumers."

The Government had to freeze beer tax whilst a reduced rate for pubs was considered, he added.

"Well-run community pubs help reduce alcohol related disorder and binge drinking by providing a safe, controlled and supervised environment for people to have fun and enjoy a drink.

"Pubs play a vital role in community life and provide a much valued sociable leisure activity for millions.

"Despite overwhelming political and media concern, supermarkets continue to push below cost alcohol deals. Current promotions include 18 bottles of premium lager being sold for £6.99 and 45 cans of lager for £18.

"These deals are utterly irresponsible and are ripping the heart out of community life by closing pubs. The Government must act now to end irresponsible alcohol price promotions that are encouraging alcohol misuse, undermining communities, ruining livelihoods and damaging peoples' social lives."

So, the latest genius suggestion from Downing Street is to set minimum prices on beer and spirits, allegedly in a bid to reduce binge drinking.

Personally, I'd have thought the current economic crisis -- a large part of the blame for which can be lain at that same doorstep -- is already placing near-fatal pressure on the brewing and distillery industries. Only two weeks ago, this column highlighted the sudden collapse in bar and pub revenue over the past twelve months.

The truth is, most of the idiots staggering around town and city centres on a Saturday evening are already well on the well to inebriation before they even leave home, but it's easier for Gordon Brown and his gang to blame the bartenders rather than explore the inability of some individuals to exercise an iota of self-control.

Anyway, rather than set minimum prices, how about enforcing maximum tariffs?

Last night, I enjoyed several pints of Titanic's Iceberg at the Spread Eagle in Acocks Green. It's one of the Stoke-on-Trent independent's heavier brews, but ideal to buffer you against a rainswept Sunday evening -- and at £1.69 a go, excellent value. Head down south, though, and you could easily double that pricetag; I was even charged nearly three quid for a pint in Manchester last month.

It's high time this government left off the kneejerk vote-hustling and half-arsed social engineering, and tried calling a halt to Rip-Off Britain.

Grab your tankards -- for the third year running, the National Exhibition Centre is to host The Great Beer Experience as part of the BBC Good Food Show.

The main event will attract more than 120,000 visitors during its five-day run (26-30 November), providing a fantastic showcase for this country's top breweries.

The beer-oriented programme has been sponsored by the Campaign for Real Ale and will feature tutored tastings run by pump pundits Jeff Evans and Roger Protz, as well as head brewers from Banks's, Jennings, Marstons, Ringwood and Wychwood.

You'll find further details here, but not the obvious question: why is the venue called the NEC Birmingham, when it's located in Bickenhill, well over the border into Solihull?

Former Men Behaving Badly star Neil Morrissey and his celebrity chef mate Richard Fox launch their new careers as tv brewers tonight.

Neil Morrissey's Risky Business follows the pair as they purchase a rural pub and set up a microbrewery to produce their own range of real ales.

The first episode airs on Channel 4 at 10pm.

Figures released today by the British Beer and Pub Association make for grim reading, with beer sales in pubs, restaurants and clubs down a staggering 8.1% against the third quarter of 2007 - a fall of more than 160 million pints.

Nor were UK supermarkets immune: their sales fell by 6%.

BBPA chief executive Rob Hayward said: "The downturn has now broadened to affect sales through both pubs and supermarkets.

"This sales trend is symptomatic of the problems infecting the broader economy. But any prudent diagnosis would also identify the specific impact of the Budget's 9% beer tax increase."

Meanwhile, an average of five British pubs are closing every week.

A pioneering Somerset cider-maker has scooped the Campaign for Real Ale's 2008 Pomona Award.

Named for the Roman goddess of apples, the Pomona honours outstanding achievement in the promotion of real cider or perry.

Roger Wilkins, who runs Wilkins Cider from his farm near Wedmore, Somerset, was praised by CAMRA for his lifelong devotion to producing some of the most renowned cider in the county. Some customers have been regulars for more than thirty years.

Roger took over the family business after the death of his grandfather in 1969, and currently produces up to 20,000 gallons of cider per year. The brand was named 'Cider of the Year' at both the 1988 and 1989 Great British Beer Festival.

Afterwards, Roger said: "I am delighted to receive this recognition for doing something that I love and for carrying on the tradition of farmhouse cider-making that my grandfather taught me.

"I must also thank all the people who have supported my work over the years, and I hope they have enjoyed my cider."

Sarah Newson, vice-chair of CAMRA's Cider & Perry Committee, added: "This phenomenal contributor to the industry thoroughly deserves this award for his sheer enthusiasm and commitment to producing the best real cider.

"With his farm overlooking Westhay Moor Valley, Roger could not produce cider in a more stunning location. Maybe these surroundings have been the inspiration for his continued success!"

Tonight sees the launch of three separate real ale events up north:

The 12th Louth & District Beer Festival, at the Mason's Arms, Louth (live music on Friday and Saturday evening)

The 34th Steel City Beer & Cider Festival, at Cemetery Park, Sheffield (live music Thurday and Friday evening, entertainment all day Saturday)

The Huddersfield Oktoberfest Beer & Cider Festival, at the Irish Centre, 86 Fitzwilliam Street, Huddersfield (free entry for CAMRA members on all three days)

Just five days to go until the launch of the 10th annual Solihull Beer Festival.

This year's choice brews range from such "session ales" as Church End's Gravediggers and Malvern Hills' Feelgood (both 3.8% ABV) to stronger beers such as Acorn's Willamette IPA (5%) and Bob's Chardonnayle (5.1%).

The more adventurous can even tempt fate with a pint of Exmoor's dark ale Beast (a formidable 6.6%), which I know from experience needs to be supped with some caution.

You can read the full details at Solihull CAMRA's award-winning website.

Sadly, I'm unable to join them next weekend, but I'd like to offer my sincere thanks to the festival's organisers for choosing Diabetes UK as their official charity, in memory of my wife Ann. It's a terrific gesture.

Rather like the minor celebrities and second-rank aristocrats who scurry to pick up each year's edition of Who's Who to see if they've merited a mention, arguably the major publishing event on the beerhunter's calendar is the release of the Campaign for Real Ale's Good Beer Guide.

The 2009 edition is just out, and editor Roger Protz has once again compiled an indispensible guide to more than 4,500 of the best pubs in Britain.

In the West Midlands, for instance, we have listings for the the Vaults in Knowle (Solihull CAMRA's Pub of the Year 2008), the Waggon & Horses in Oldbury, the Old Joint Stock in Central Birmingham and the Port 'n' Ale in Tipton. Plus, of course, the famous Bernie's Real Ale Off-Licence in Shirley, Solihull.

Nor is the GBG devoted entirely to pubs, also finding room for extensive entries on the UK 's many independent breweries, including regional brands such as Tunnel and Church End (both Nuneaton), Purity (Great Alne), Enville (Stourbridge), and Titanic (Stoke-on-Trent).

Copies cost £14.99, but CAMRA members pay just £11.00. Why not come along to next month's Solihull Beer Festival and pick up your own map to this country's brewing treasures?

Reports that the number of British pub closures has escalated to a staggering 36 per week -- more than five each day -- has prompted calls for immediate intervention by Downing Street to save the industry.

Mike Benner, Chief Executive of the Campaign for Real Ale, said: ""It is clear that the Government must take urgent action to save pubs from closure.

"Pubs are essential local services and the Government has a moral duty to protect them."

The first move should be a complete u-turn on new beer taxes, he added.

"It should start by announcing immediately that it will reverse its decision to increase beer duty in the next four budgets and that a review of alcohol taxes will be undertaken without delay."