Campaigns
We are currently living in strange times, with the
unprecedented worldwide recession, the government in its
death throes randomly flinging out ill conceived policies,
growing unemployment and rising unrest evident all around
us. And against this backdrop the enjoyment of a quality
beer in a convivial atmosphere can sometimes seem
relatively unimportant to all of us - even CAMRA members
(on occasion) - but off course even more so to none
drinkers and more worryingly the disconnected MPs, who are
supposed to represent us.
Pubs and drinking are under constant attack from all sides
with the recession and unemployment affecting the change in
our pockets, the media portrayal of all drinkers as a
problem requiring fixing, and the government considering
taxation as a way to deal with binge drinking. Meanwhile
the pubco’s are cutting and running from struggling
lessees in their droves, while the humble local pubs
struggle to deal with the ongoing impacts from the smoking
ban and escalator taxes on the pint (not to mention
numerous side effects from other ill thought government
policies - entertainment licenses anyone?). And we
won’t even mention Cains.
The pubs themselves in a struggle to survive look for where
margins can be squeezed, through price increases, the
removal of lined glasses, or cutting back the opening hours
and the staff working there.
The 24/7 news culture goes for headlines of course in the
battle for news ratings and 100,000 members enjoying a pint
or three of Ruby Mild or XXXB is not attractive to them
while kids drinking vodka bottles on street corners or
youths in town falling over or fighting makes good tele if
poor journalism. Unfortunately the very thing that sells
the Daily Mail, or fills ITV news programs is currently how
government policy is researched and actioned.
All this goes to make this real ale fan feel a little like
the boy with the finger in a dyke. But we are 100,000
strong now as members, and there are many more non-members
out there who feel the same. We all have fingers and we
should feel like we can do something.
As CAMRA we try hard to fight for policies that protect or
help nurture the industry - and the output - which we so
love. We have had some good successes one of which LocAle
fits well with the zeitgeist of sustainability and the
general increasing desire for local produce. Many of these
local brewers are small and while some may be perfectly
formed now can quickly become damaged through
‘small’ tinkering of government be it national
or local and where are they going to sell their beer when
the pubs shut down?
So as an individual where do you fit in; where you can
help, which part of the dyke are you going to save? There
are many options worth considering some of which may
involve a little work, but even that should be enjoyable.
To show your support to CAMRA and the real ale industry you
could;
- Volunteer to work at a beer festival, or assist in its organisation
- How about writing a piece for the MerseyAle or the website
- You could become a Pub Ambassador for your local or favourite pub
- You could help distribute the MerseyAle
- Write to your MP or Councillor on matters relating to pubs and breweries
- Just drink out at you local (that’s an easy one)
- Write to your newspaper
- Support your branch at the CAMRA meetings and go on one of the frequent trips
- Keep the faith and spread the word.
Remember if you feel like you don’t have the time to help just stick with the drinking real ale at your local or favourite pub.
_____________________________________
LocAle
is an important initiative and fits well with the growing
awareness and sustainability ethos across both Government
and the Real World, which we populate.
Check out our dedicated
LocAle
page, which has just been launched in
March ‘09.
Also
check the Locale website on the main CAMRA site by clicking
on the logo above.
_____________________________________
BACK
THE PUB
Following
the Axe the Tax Campaign last year the campaign has
recently developed into the 'Back the Pub'. Once again you
are all thoroughly encouraged to lobby your MP and speak
with your councillor. Please check out the Back the Pub
website.
CAMRA
Campaign Success
John Healey, Minister for Pubs has announced a major
package of reforms to support pubs. This announcement
reflects all of the hard work and tireless campaigning that
we in CAMRA have been doing both nationally and locally to
protect consumers, community pubs and local brewers.
The Government's new 12 point action plan promises sweeping
reforms on a wide variety of subjects.
To support community pubs, the Government has announced:
• Greater protection for pubs under threat of
demolition
• A ban on the anti-competitive practice of imposing
restrictive covenants on the sale of pubs
• Greater flexibility for pubs to diversify by adding
shops and other facilities without planning permission
• £1 million Government funding for Pub is The Hub
• £3 million to support Community pub ownership
• Greater freedom for pubs to host live music without
a specific licence
To reform the operation of the beer tie to ensure a fair
deal for tenants and consumers, the Government has
announced:
• A one year deadline to fully implement the
recommendations of the recent Business, Innovation and
Skills Select Committee report on Pub Companies - before
the government intervenes with legislation if necessary -
and deliver a beer right and a free of tie option for tied
tenants.
The proposals have the potential to totally transform the
UK pubs market leading to a free, fair and competitive
market where consumers will benefit through greater choice,
improved amenity and lower prices.
We are now busy lobbying hard to encourage the other
political parties to unveil their policies to support pubs
before the General Election. We also need to ensure that
the Government sticks to the proposals they've announced.
So it's vital that we keep the pressure up by continuing to
encourage election candidates from all parties to support
the proposals in CAMRA's Beer Drinkers and Pub Goers
Charter.
To get this message through to all politicians it is now
more important than ever for you to lobby your election
candidates if you haven't done so already.
We hope that you will toast CAMRA's achievements with a
pint of real ale in your local pub this weekend!
Mike Benner
CAMRA Chief Executive
Axe
the Tax
Bob
Russell the Liberal Democrat MP for Colchester put forward
an Early Day Motion (EDM10) on the campaign to save the
Great British Pub. The full motion is:
“That this House is alarmed that five public houses
are closing down every day, with beer sales in pubs at
their lowest level for nearly 40 years; is deeply concerned
as to the future of 7,500 public houses and more than
40,000 jobs; supports the launch of a campaign to mobilise
public and political support to save the Great British Pub;
believes that traditional public houses are being unfairly
priced out of the market while supermarkets offer cheap
deals without the level of restrictions and
responsibilities required of licencees of public houses;
further supports the beer industry and The Campaign for
Real Ale's Axe the Beer Tax, Save the Pub campaign which
states that tax rises in the Pre-Budget Report, and further
planned increases in tax, will place traditional public
houses at even greater risk of closing down; and calls on
the Government to adopt the campaign's Last Orders, a
five-point plan to save the British pub, as a way forward
in safeguarding the future of Britain's traditional public
houses.”
Over
150 MP’s signed EDM 10 see whether yours did (looking
at the numbers who have in the Liverpool & District
area the chances are they didn’t). Poor showing from
our MP’s. We would be interested to see any feedback
you have had from contacts with your MP’s and
councillers.
EDM
10 - Sign Up
