As readers may know, under a 2003 convention, the United Nations education, science and culture organisation, UNESCO, maintains a list of items that reflect a nation’s intangible cultural heritage. As well as natural features and architecture, these can include foodstuffs. The UK government only ratified this convention in March 2024. It is largely symbolic but having this status very much helps to spread knowledge of the item in question. To date, no items from this country have been listed but hopefully that will change shortly with the inclusion of the production and serving of traditional British cask conditioned beer. There is a precedent; Belgian beer culture was listed in 2016.
The first step is to petition Parliament. A petition has been set up by Jonny Garrett, founder of the Craft Beer Channel on YouTube. Mr Garrett explained, “We think with the hospitality industry under financial pressure, it’s vital we protect cask ale from further decline, both for its financial role in pubs, breweries, maltings and farms and for its cultural one in British society.” CAMRA is giving the petition its full support.
At the beginning of July, the petition had around 31,500 signatures. When the 10,000 signature mark is reached, the Government is obliged to issue a response. This happened on 24 April, with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport saying, “As part of the implementation of the UNESCO 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, the UK Government is working closely with the Devolved Governments to create inventories for each of the four nations in the UK; these will combine into one inventory of Living Heritage (or Intangible Cultural Heritage) in the UK. Following a public consultation on the inventory process, we will open a call for submissions later this year for communities to submit items of living heritage. The Government would welcome a submission from the cask ale community on the production and serving of traditional British cask ale. Subject to the submission meeting the criteria outlined in the consultation response, the item would be included. Inclusion in the inventories of an item would provide recognition of the item’s significance, contributing in part to the safeguarding of the item through greater awareness and understanding. The Government will set out its approach to further supporting communities to safeguard their living heritage later this year.”
If, however, the petition reaches 100,000 signatures, the matter will be considered for debate in the House of Commons. The organisers are hoping to reach that target. This would provide an opportunity to point out that there is little point in recognising the value of cask ale when the pubs essential to its dispense are under threat from the recent increases in Employer’s National Insurance, disproportionate business rates and excessive energy costs.
You can sign the petition at https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/716686. The closing date is 1 October 2025.