CAMPAIGN FOR REAL ALE

• Community Pub of the Year
• Community Pubs Week Feb 2008
• Real Ale in Growth
• Beer Tasters Needed
• Landlord's Tale

Scottish and Newcastle, the UK’s largest brewer, is a target for a joint bid planned by Carlsberg and Heineken, the global brewing groups based in Denmark and Holland, who are to form a consortium to launch the bid. S&N have received no approach regarding the bid. If successful, this would mean that all of what were known as the ‘big six’ UK brewers would be in foreign ownership. S&N have received no approach regarding any bid.

Thai beer Chang, named after the Thai word for Elephant, is to be marketed to the many UK pubs offering Thai menus. Global brewer InterBev, which owns the brand, is importing the beer from Thailand.

Alcohol consumption in the UK fell by 3.3% in 2006, and by 5.3% over the past two years, according to the British Beer and Pub Association’s Statistical Handbook 2007.Chang

In Scotland a move to curb ‘vertical drinking’ seems likely to be dropped by the City of Edinburgh Council after oppositions to the plan. The council had proposed that pubs must provide seating for at least 50% of customers. In our local area, Huntingdonshire District Council suggests that an appropriate ratio of tables and chairs to customers should be considered for pub licences. Huntingdonshire CAMRA is seeking the addition of conditions to encourage the provision and retention of room divisions, which are seen as a successful way of reducing disorder in pubs.