Government Watch
This announced the following pub-related measures:
- Criminal Justice and Police Bill
- to tackle "yob culture" and public drunkenness,
- including banning drinking in the street
- and immediate closure of problem pubs. [Follow-up: ALE 303]
- Private Security Industry Bill
- to regulate door supervisors.
- Regulatory Reform Bill
- to liberalise pub opening hours, at least for New Years Eve,
- and to improve weights and measures rules (see below).
[No. 10 News Item]
The tax saga of a year ago
has been resolved according to the November What's Brewing:
when small breweries slightly overfill casks so as to be sure they're full, the excess will
be taxed on a sliding scale according to circumstances. A victory for common sense and campaigning!
The Department of Trade and Industry
has at last responded to the Office of Fair Trading's review of the 1989 Beer Orders.
After the inevitable consulation exercise, the plan is that
the restrictions on pub ownership are to go as the industry has changed so much.
However to protect traditional pubs and choice,
the right of tenants to a guest beer will stay, as will the ban on selling a pub with a condition preventing
its further use as a pub.
[
Press Release 1-Dec-2000]
The Brewers and Licensed Retailers Association is running an e-poll & e-petition
against the high beer tax, as
the Society of Independent Brewers did a year earlier.
[Follow-up]
The Government proposes the following:
- the pint to be defined as 100 per cent liquid, including liquid in the head of
froth, but excluding gas in the head;
- landlords to serve 100 per cent liquid on average, and never to
serve less than 95 per cent liquid;
- frothier beers and ciders to be served either in lined measure glasses or
from metered dispensers, and brim measure glasses to be used only for less
frothier beers and ciders.
CAMRA research carried out in December 2000
showed that 82% of 1000 adults questioned agreed or agreed strongly with the
following statements:
- "When ordering a pint of beer you should get 100% liquid"
- "New laws should be introduced to ensure pubs serve a full measure of beer every time"
Recent research by CAMRA reveals that:
- 82% of people believe a pint should be 100% liquid (only 6% disagree)
- 73% agree that new laws should be introduced to ensure
pubs serve a full measure of beer every time (only 7% disagree)
- pints can be short by as much as 15%!
- the average pint of stout was found to be only 93.5% liquid!
- short measure costs drinkers over £1 million a week.
See also Trading Standards.
[Follow-up]
ALE Winter 2000 No. 300
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Cambridge & District CAMRA