Back the Pub - Early Day Motion

From Brew Wales

A quick look at the Early Day Motions (EDMs) tabled by our Westminster politicians comes up with this one from the Chair of the Parliamentary Beer Group John Grogan MP and signed by Nigel Evans MP the Vice-Chair of the Group so it has cross-party support. To date 21 MPs have signed the motion so have a read of the motion and then please consider writing to your MP, asking them to sign this EDM and support the campaign to Back the Pub.

EDM 687

I'M BACKING THE PUB CAMPAIGN

21.01.2010

Grogan, John

That this House welcomes the I'm Backing the Pub campaign by the British Beer and Pub Association, Society of Independent Brewers and supported by the Campaign for Real Ale, the Confederation of British Industry, Visit Britain, British Hospitality Association, Local Government Association, Central Council of Physical Recreation and UK Music to promote British pubs and British beer; believes that pubs lie at the social heart of communities across the country, employ more than half a million people across the UK, and provide an important contribution to national income; recognises the social benefits of the responsible enjoyment of lower-strength drinks like beer; and notes that with more than 50 pubs closing every week it is vital that the Government, industry, local authorities and others work together to support a quintessentially British institution and Britain's national drink as part of efforts to enhance community life and promote economic recovery.

A good one to get your local MP to sign up for so please write to your local MP asking them to sign EDM 687 and support the British Pub.

Your MP

House of Commons 

London

SW1A 0AA 

Unfortunately my MP, being a PPS refuses to sign EDMs, however she will still b receiving a letter off me!

There is also a Back the Pub video

Drinks watchdog "bonkers"

The Portman Group, who are funded by multi-national alcoholic drink producers and make up the industry guidlines for alcoholic drink sales, have finally gone bonkers with their attack on a beer named after a Viking King. Rather than go after a multi-national who funds them and makes a lager commonly known as "wife beater", the Portman Group have decided to attack an award-winning beer called Skull Splitter made by the Orkney brewery as the name "implied violence". I'm pretty sure that when some chav goes into the supermarket for his daily 10 cans of super strength lager at 20p a can or whatever the chain is flogging it out at this week, their choice of drink is going to depend on whether or not the beer is named after a Viking. Skull Splitter has be brewed for at least 17 years, as Brew Wales can remember buying bottles of it from the Beer Shop in Pitfield Street in London when he lived there. It was a fantastic beer then and has gone on to win many CAMRA awards since.
Where will this end? Brains SA is commonly known as "Skull Attack", so that obviously implies violence. Gwynt Y Ddraig cider produce a cider called "Barnstormer" which may well encourage pilots to engage in low-level flying!
Bent Bike Cider, made in Monmouthshire, well with a name like that it could be construed as encouraging people to ride bikes after drinking their cider.
And as for Toloja Cider with their Drunk Dewi - obviously encouraging Dragons who may be underage to drink.


Luckily in the midst of this rubbish being churned out by the Portman Group, Alistair Carmichael, the MP for Orkney and Shetland, has tabled a Commons motion calling for a complaint against Orkney Brewery's 8.5 per cent ABV Skull Splitter ale to be rejected.

EDM 2199
SKULL SPLITTER ALE
08.10.2008
Carmichael, Alistair

That this House notes with amazement that the Portman Group is considering a complaint against the name of the Orkney Brewery's Skull Splitter beer, a complaint that claims that the name could imply violence and that its Viking branded bottles have an aggressive theme; recognises that the name would be inappropriate if it were applied to a low price high alcohol content drink aimed at young drinkers; considers that Skull Splitter is not such a drink, but is instead a high quality premium beer, not sold in supermarkets, a past Champion Winter Ale of Britain, which is targeted at and bought by discerning drinkers who appreciate its quality and who drink it responsibly; further recognises the beer is named after Thorfinn Hausakluif, the seventh Viking Earl of Orkney nicknamed skull splitter; believes that the name is an entirely appropriate name for a beer brewed in Orkney with its strong Viking heritage; further believes that to lose the use of the name would be a serious setback to the brewery, undoing years of good work building a market share for Skull Splitter among connoisseurs of good beer; and calls on the Portman Group to reject the complaint.

So well done then to Alistair Carmichael MP for supporting his local brewery and telling the Portman Group to finally get some common sense.

Beer cheaper than water!

Nigel Evans MP for Ribble Valley and Vice-chair of the Parliamentary Beer Group, has tabled an early day motion slamming supermarkets for selling beer cheaper than water.

EDM 2159
PRICE OF BEER IN SUPERMARKETS

That this House notes with concern that Asda supermarkets are selling Skol lager at a price of £0.90 pence for 4x440ml cans which is the equivalent of 5.11 pence per 100ml; further notes that Asda supermarkets are selling Evian still water at 5.55 pence per 100ml; is appalled that any supermarket is selling beer cheaper than water; questions whether this is an example of loss leading sales; encourages all supermarkets to cease this practice immediately; recognises the negative effect that this has on the brewing and pub industries, with 36 pub closures a week; and calls on the Government to look at the pricing policy of beers in supermarkets as opposed to public houses.

According to Nigel Evans MP, "These are lunatic prices and are creating a high street booze war. If not checked, the problem will escalate and everybody will loose. Binge drinkers will fall ill, the NHS will see a rise in alcohol related cases and the pubs and brewing industries will be crippled. We need to act now before the situation gets any worse.I will also be writing to the Secretary of State for Health to make sure that he is aware of the situation.”

37 MPs have signed this motion so far by Friday 10th October check if your MP has signed the EDM here - if you want to help save local pubs then please write to your local MP asking them to sign EDM 2159
The address for MPs is
House of Commons
Westminster
London
SW1A 0AA

Brew Wales spotted beer from a local brewery available at a discounted price in Tesco earlier this year. A quick call to the brewery established that the beer was being sold by this major supermarket chain at a loss, ie, they were charging less than the purchase price for it. What seems to be happening is that major supermarkets are selling alcohol at a loss just to get customers in through the door. Bad news for pubs who are charged extortionate prices for their beers by pub companies. No wonder we have 36 pub closures a week!
Just spotted the latest ludicrous price for lager - Tescos doing 18 bottles of lager for £5! Down from £14.99.
Anyway I'm off to the pub to celebrate my birthday!