CAMRA calls for Government action to save pubs
At the launch of the Good Beer Guide 2009, CAMRA is calling on the Government to introduce measures to prevent supermarkets selling alcohol as a loss leader. In response to this week's announcement that 36 pubs are closing every week, with a gloomy outlook for many more British pubs, the consumer group is urging the Government to introduce minimum pricing to reduce the gap between supermarket and pub prices.
“Cheap beer in supermarkets - often sold at less than the price of bottled water - is killing the British pub”, says CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2009 Editor Roger Protz as he launched the 2009 edition today (September 11th).
“Over 150 pubs a month are closing” Protz said. “And the main reason is simple: people are abandoning their locals because they can buy cheap supermarket beer at a fraction of the price charged by pubs.”
CAMRA claims that well-run community pubs provide a perfect environment for adults to enjoy alcohol responsibly, but as small businesses, they are unable to absorb tax and cost increases and cannot demand the wholesale discounts enjoyed by supermarkets. Pubs are no longer able to compete on a level playing field.
Industry statistics show that off-trade beer prices have fallen by 1% in the last year, while pub prices have increased by around 4.4%. Since 2002 Off-trade beer prices have fallen by 7% while pub prices have increased by 24%.
As a result of the 10% beer tax increase in this year's Budget, prices in pubs have increased by 4.4% in the last year and the average price of a pint of lager in a pub is now £2.82. In contrast, prices in the off trade have fallen by a further 1% as a result of huge price promotions. The Great British Pub is being targeted by ruthless off trade discounting that is resulting in falling pub visits and record pub closures.
CAMRA believes Government action is required to help pubs as they are the best place to enjoy alcohol responsibly in a regulated and socially controlled environment.
In a recent CAMRA pricing survey, research found drastically low figures in the off-trade with mainstream global lager bands on sale for as little as 57 pence a pint.
Examples of price deals found in supermarkets in September 2008:
- Sainsbury's: Foster's lager - 3 cases of 440ml cans (cases of 15) for £20. That's the equivalent of 57.4 pence per pint.
- Asda: John Smith's Smooth Bitter - 3 cases of 440ml cans (cases of 15) for £20. That's also the equivalent of 57.4 pence per pint.
- Morrison's: 24 cans of 440ml Stella Artois lager for £15.47. That's the equivalent of 77.9 pence per pint.
- Lidl: 8 cans of 440ml Carlsberg lager for £4.49. That's the equivalent of 56.9 pence per pint.
Mr Protz commented: “When a pub closes the community's heart is ripped out and dies. It's a particular problem in rural areas, where the village pub is the heart of the community. People go to pubs for friendship, conversation, to enjoy an affordable meal, or just quietly read a newspaper.”
“And pubs are regulated licensed premises. Publicans who permit bad behaviour such as heavy drinking will lose their licences.
“Supermarkets face no such restraints. They have no idea what happens to cheap alcohol once it leaves their stores. In too many cases, it's passed on to under-age drinkers. It's the supermarkets, not pubs, that encourage binge drinking, with their massively discounted sales of alcohol.”
Roger Protz describes the relationship between big brewers and supermarkets as, “the economics of the mad house. Coors, the American giant that now owns the former Bass breweries in Britain, has seen its profits halve in recent years - mainly as a result of the deep discounts demanded by the retailers.
“One solution is for England and Wales to follow the example of the Scottish government and consider a minimum pricing policy for alcohol sold in the off-trade. Urgent action is needed to help save that great British institution - your friendly, neighbourhood local.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
Statistics obtained from CAMRA pricing surveys and from National Statistics - Focus of Consumer Prices July 2008.
The Good Beer Guide features 4,500 entries to guide the reader to Britain's best beer and pubs, complete with beer listings, opening hours, pub food information, facilities for families, accommodation, history and locations.
Unlike other guides, every pub in the Good Beer Guide is exhaustively researched by CAMRA's 93,000 members. Only pubs with a consistently high standard of real ale are considered for entry.
The Good Beer Guide 2009 is sponsored by Cask Marque - a non profit making organisation set up to champion quality of cask ale within the industry. www.cask-marque.co.uk
CAMRA now has more than 93,000 members
The Good Beer Guide is available priced £14.99 directly from CAMRA (£12.99 for CAMRA members) or at all good book shops. Further discounts also available through the online CAMRA shop - www.camra.org.uk/shop
For further information
CAMRA Press Office, 01727 798443
Jon Howard, CAMRA Press Officer, 07939 425471
Tony Jerome, CAMRA Press and Marketing Manager, 07736 948186
Jonathan Mail, CAMRA Head of Public Affairs, 01727 798448
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