HERTFORDSHIRE’S Pints of View The bi-monthly publication for every discerning drinker June/July 2010 Circulation 8000 No. 241 Hertfordshire Pub of the Year awards for: Queens Head — Allens Green, Half Moon — Hitchin, Crooked Billet — Ware, and Six Bells — St Albans See pages 8 - 10 All set for a very green beer festival in June See page 12 Devon cider maker is CAMRA’s 2010 Cider and Perry Champion See Page 61 THE BITTER END Over 650 Election Candidates Support Reform of Beer T ie nfortunately the publication date of Pints of View has not allowed us to comment in Uany detail on the run up to the General Election. The press and media heralded the election as the most important for a generation and the possibilities of great change. Whether this will be the case following the result remains to be seen. CAMRA was not idle during the election campaign period and formulated the “Beer Drinkers and Pub Goers Charter”, in effect our manifesto, which contained five key issues: 1) Promote the interests of Britain's pub goers 2) Champion well-run community pubs 3) Rebalance alcohol taxation to support beer and pubs 4) Reform the beer tie to deliver a fair deal for consumers 5) Support the role of well-run pubs as solutions to alcohol misuse Of the 662 election candidates who signed up to support CAMRA’s commitments, 264 were Liberal Democrats, 160 Labour Party candidates, 80 Conservatives, 122 Green Party candidates and 36 from other parties. In Hertfordshire support was pledged by: Broxbourne: Mr Allan Witherick - Liberal Democrats will know Anne Main is a long term supporter of Hemel Hempstead: Dr Richard Grayson - Liberal CAMRA, and is active in support of pubs and Democrats licensees. It is also pleasing to see Stephen Hertsmere: Mr Arjuna Krishna-Das - Green Party, McPartland, the Stevenage MP, on the list as well Mr Anthony Rowlands - Liberal Democrats although I have no knowledge of how much active Hitchin and Harpenden: Mr Nigel Quinton - interest he takes, or if he is in contact with the Liberal Democrats, Mr Richard Wise - Green Party North Hertfordshire CAMRA branch. North East Hertfordshire: Mr Hugh Annand - Now to the not so good: Peter Lilley, MP for Liberal Democrats, Ms Rosemary Bland - Green Harpenden and Hitchin, who visited the Party Harpenden Beer Festival and published a photo of St Albans: Mr Jack Easton — Green Party, Ms Anne himself having a drink with John Bishop and Main - Conservative Party (elected), Ms Roma Mills myself in his Westminster Report , shows little - Labour Party, Mr Sandy Walkington - Liberal interest. He did not support the Full Pint Early Day Democrats Motion (EDM) , or stand against the progressive Stevenage: Julia Davies - Liberal Democrats, Mr above-inflation tax increases on alcohol imposed Stephen McPartland - Conservative Party (elected) by the Labour Party. He also says he has no problem with the Tied House system, which is Watford: Mr Ian Brandon - Green Party causing so many problems for licensees around the Welwyn Hatfield: Mr Mike Hobday - Labour Party, county, and forcing up the price of a pint to Mr Paul Zukowskyj - Liberal Democrats customers. James Clappison, MP for Hertsmere, As readers can see only two of those who does reply to correspondence in a more positive supported the Charter were elected. manner, but again has missed opportunities to Every candidate in St Albans, home of CAMRA, support EDMs on the full pint, taxation and pub gave support, and as those who read this journal preservation. 2 THE BITTER END Nationally, over 650 election candidates guest beer right and a free of tie option for tied committed to reforming ‘beer tie’ arrangements in tenants. the UK pubs industry, one of the key causes of Up-to-date lists of the election candidates who high beer prices and wholesale pub closures. This signed up to support CAMRA's five election is particularly important at a time when over 5 commitments can be found at: pubs a day continue to close across the UK. The www.camra.org.uk/electionportal which contains closures are due in part to large pub companies the full Beer Drinkers and Pub Goers Charter along exploiting tie arrangements, which force tied with party breakdowns, policy summaries, quotes publicans to buy their beer at around 50% above from supportive candidates, and examples of free market prices. where candidates have publicised their support in Reforming the beer tie is one of five key their local press. commitments that CAMRA has asked election Let’s hope the incoming coalition government is candidates to sign up to. There has been an more sensitive towards pubs and pub customers. unprecedented demonstration of support and As I have said before, increasing beer taxation interest in the issue of the beer tie, rebalancing does not raise any extra revenue as it is always alcohol taxation and supporting pubs as a solution followed by a drop in consumption. If you want to to alcohol misuse. raise money and help reduce the country’s I do not have the exact figures yet but around 180 excessive debts a tax reduction would boost pub of the candidates who have signed up were sales, save pubs, help kick start the economy and elected. During the next parliament CAMRA will raise much needed revenue. Or is there another be calling on each of the elected candidates to agenda?” Steve Bury back up their commitment to “reform the beer tie to deliver a fair deal for consumers” with action on issues such as a legally binding code of conduct, a 25% Beer Duty Increase Threat to Community Pubs Survival Political party quotes: AMRA has attacked the outgoing • Nick Clegg (Leader, Liberal Democrats) Government’s lack of regard for community 'I am proud to be a signatory to pubs and responsible beer drinkers the charter and to help bring C following a punitive 5% increase in beer duty in attention to the much-needed the Budget and plans to increase beer duty above support required for well-run inflation for the next three years. community pubs, local brewers With nearly 6 pubs a day already closing, CAMRA and consumer rights which all contribute to fears these latest rises will mark the end for many community life and boost the local economy.' more valued community pubs, with beer prices set to rise in pubs by up to 20p a pint. • David Kidney (Labour) Instead of freezing beer duty and helping to protect 'I support great British pubs and I urge everyone else to the nation’s well-run community pubs, the support them, too...’ Chancellor’s last act before the General Election was to impose another duty hike that will lead to • John Whittingdale (Conservative) further wholesale pub closures. Beer duty has 'Pubs lie at the heart of many soared by an unprecedented 25% in the last 2 communities and play a vital years. role in bringing people Mike Benner, CAMRA Chief Executive, said: together... ’ ‘The budget is a charter for the large supermarkets who irresponsibly promote alcohol as a loss leader • Greg Mulholland (Liberal Democrats) at the expense of our nation’s community pubs, 'As Chair of the All Party real ale and responsible pub goers. Parliamentary Save the Pub ‘CAMRA is totally at a loss in understanding how a Group, I fully support CAMRA's Government that recognises the community value Charter...' of pubs can impose such consistently draconian beer duty increases. 3 THE BITTER END ‘Today’s duty increase has The scheme is very simple, a branch member logs stamped down on the on to the NBSS section of the web site and then survival hopes of enters their name and membership number, the community pubs across name of the pub, the beer drunk (optional) and a the UK . This is a further score from 0 to 5 to indicate its quality. tax raid on responsible The scheme enables a member to keep a record of beer drinkers and the beers he or she has drunk so they can look community pubs. It is back and see what they thought of particular beers however a tax raid that in particular pubs over the previous months and will yield little extra money branches in whose area these pubs are based can for the Government as any extra beer get an idea of what other people think about the duty will be outweighed by job losses, pub quality of beers in pubs that they may be closures and reduced business taxes.’ considering for Good Beer Guide selection. CAMRA had expressed concern at the proposed So why not check out the NBSS section on the 10% above inflation increase in duty on cider and members part of the CAMRA web site? Just click following objections in the House this was on “Submit Beer Scores” sign in and start loading removed from the Governments budget proposals. up your scores. Before long you will have built up The problem with the Chancellors Tax/Price hikes your very own beer score database and never on alcohol and tobacco is that they do not again will you be racking your memory to increase revenue as consumption reduces. The remember that beer you found so great. amount raised in revenue from excise duty and And if you are not yet a CAMRA member why not VAT on beer fell by £31m last year due to the join? Use the application form in this edition of decrease in sales. The overall tax raised from Pints of View and soon you will be receiving the alcohol remained the same as in 2007/8 at benefits of CAMRA membership.