CIDER AND PERRY MONTH
October will be, as ever, one of CAMRA’s biannual Cider and Perry Months. To see what events are taking place, go to the map on the Cider Month page of the CAMRA website. You can also use CAMRA’s new events system.
CHARITY ABSTINENCE CAMPAIGNS
CAMRA feels that charity fundraising and awareness campaigns that seek to reduce harmful alcohol consumption should be welcomed and recognised as well intentioned. That said, we need to remember that there is an active anti-alcohol lobby that seeks to demonise the consumption of alcohol in all forms, regardless of whether that consumption is responsible. CAMRA advocates the responsible consumption of alcohol in controlled community settings, not least the pub. We have serious doubts as to whether these short term stoppages offer a solution to harmful drinking and we want to make sure that consumers have a balanced view on the debate around alcohol harm. These campaigns also affect the trade of pubs and clubs which is especially relevant at present, with so many pubs and breweries under threat.
REVIEW OF ALCOHOL TAXATION
On 20 July, the Treasury announced that decisions as to the implementation of the promised changes to alcohol taxation would not now be announced until the autumn. CAMRA sees the early implementation of these measures as a crucial part of the help that the pub trade and brewery industry urgently need. This came despite a parliamentary debate, secured by Alun Cairns MP, which was held on 7 July.
GUEST BEER CALL
As part of their submission to the second statutory review on the operation of the Pubs Code, the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) has proposed that tenanted pubs subject to the beer tie be allowed to sell at least one beer from a small local brewery which does not come from the list operated by their pub owning company (POB). The aim is to ‘help pubs attract more business, improve consumer choice and help brewers who have been hit hard over recent years’. Something similar is planned in Scotland. Abolition of the tie might be a more effective approach.
SMALL BREWERIES’ RELIEF CELEBRATED
Although, as reported above, the revision of Small Breweries’ Relief (SBR) is being delayed, its 20th anniversary was celebrated all the same. This took the form of a parliamentary debate titled ‘the Impact of Small Brewers Relief on independent brewers’ proposed by Owen Thompson MP. Whatever its faults, SBR opened the way for many of our small breweries and has radically changed the outlook for beer drinkers. As part of the celebration, Hackney’s Five Points Brewery produced a one-off celebration ale. This was brewed with British malt and Sovereign, Bullion and Relentless hops, give the acronym SBR. Relentless, incidentally, is a new experimental British hop.
DRINK GREENER UPDATE
This probably would have been better coming at the start of the summer but, that said, it is a long term issue. As part of its Drink Greener campaign, CAMRA has joined with an organisation called A Plastic Planet who are campaigning to see plastic pint ‘glasses’ included in the ban on single use plastics. Quite often, the use of plastic pints is a licensing condition for safety reasons for venues with access to open spaces. There are alternatives becoming available however and we hope that these conditions can be amended appropriately. Also, licensees should be able to choose the materials they use as an alternative to glass. If any branches wish to campaign on this point, resources can be found in the Drink Greener area of the Campaigns Hub on CAMRA’s website. As an aside, if ever you are given a plastic substitute glass, check the capacity. Several times over the years I have been given one with a capacity of 500 ml, which is way short of a legal pint.
OFF-SALES PROVISION EXTENDED
During the pandemic the Government temporarily allowed licensed premises to make off-sales, whether or not their licence permitted it. This applied to take away and delivery orders, as well as serving alcohol in outdoor areas, especially in the extra pavement spaces which were also permitted. Following lobbying by the trade, led by UKHospitality, this easement, as it is termed, has been extended to September 2023. It is hoped that this arrangement will be made permanent as part of the Government’s deregulation policies.
You can keep up to date with these and other stories via the CAMRA London Region Twitter account @CAMRA_London