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Press Release

26/09/2018

 The Campaign for Real Ale supports Cask Ale Week, as research shows real ale drinkers are the biggest supporters of pubs


 

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has thrown its support behind an initiative celebrating Britain’s cask ale, as new research suggests cask beer drinkers are the biggest supporters of pubs.

Cask Ale Week (20-30 September) is a campaign organised annually by Cask Marque, celebrating Britain’s cask ale with many pubs and breweries putting on events, promotions and festivals. CAMRA is encouraging its members to host and attend events to celebrate Britain’s national drink, as well as sharing information about Cask Ale Week promotions on social media.

With the celebration underway, new research has suggested that cask beer drinkers are bigger supporters of pubs than those who drink other kinds of alcohol. The research by YouGov [1] showed that 61% of regular real ale drinkers said the pub is the place they most enjoy drinking socially, compared to 32% of those who consume other alcoholic drinks.

CAMRA’s most recent statistics still put pub closures at a high rate, with 18 closing every week. At the end of October, a Mass Lobby Day will be held at Westminster to encourage MPs to commit to CAMRA’s three point plan to save the Great British pub:

  • Axing plans to increase beer duty in the upcoming Autumn Budget.
  • Granting a permanent business rate relief for pubs in the upcoming Autumn Budget.
  • Having an urgent review of the Pubs Code so that the Market Rent Only option becomes a genuine choice for tenants.

CAMRA’s Chief Communications Officer, Tom Stainer, said: “We are delighted to be joining in the Cask Ale Week celebrations to help promote Britain’s national drink, cask ale. It is great to see that real ale drinkers are the biggest supporters of the pubs and still enjoy heading down to their local for a pint of their favourite beer – and makes it clear why it’s so beneficial to pubs to make sure they stock quality real ale.

“Pubs are still at as much risk as ever, with 17 a week closing across the country. Our planned Mass Lobby Day is intended to stem the tide of pub closures and save the pub from extinction. We’re urging MPs from across the country to meet with our members on the Lobby Day, so they can hear why pubs are so important and what they can do to help.”

More information about the Mass Lobby Day (30 October) can be found: camra.org.uk/saveourpubs

 

Notes to Editors:

[1] All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2,070 adults, of which 256 were regular real ale drinkers. Fieldwork was undertaken between 6th-9th July 2018. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+).

The YouGov survey asked: “For the following question, by “drinking socially”, we mean drinking alcohol and spending time with your friends. In which ONE, if any, of the following places do you MOST enjoy drinking alcohol socially (i.e. with friends)? (Please select the option that best applies. If you don’t enjoy drinking alcohol socially with friends anywhere in particular, please select the “Not applicable” option). Of all the UK adults who responded and said that they were real ale drinkers, 61% said at a pub, 7% said at a restaurant, 1% said at a nightclub, 23% said at home (i.e mine or a friends), 4% said at a bar, 2% said other, 0% said don’t know and 1% said not applicable.” Of those UK adults who responded and said that they were an alcohol drinker, 32% said at a pub, 13% said at a restaurant, 2% said at a nightclub, 35% said at home, 8% said at a bar, 2% said other, 1% said don’t know and 8% said not applicable.

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