November 2008 Archives

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?