EC&O Venues Earls Court And Olympia

CAMRA - ‘People’s Pint’ to help save community pubs and promote responsible drinking

CAMRA Great British Beer Festival 2011, Earls Court, London, 2nd – 6th August 2011- www.gbbf.org.uk

• ‘People's Pint’ to give pub goers new options for a lower calorie pint, pace their consumption, save up to 50p compared to an average pint*, and even help rehydrate!
• 1 in 2 pub goers would like a low strength beer option down their local**
• In a taste test, beer experts couldn’t differentiate between a low and mid strength real ale.

At the Great British Beer Festival today, CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, has welcomed the Government’s decision to introduce a 50% excise duty reduction on beers at or below 2.8% ABV from October 2011 in a move that will allow consumers to enjoy a lower priced and lower strength pint in their local.

CAMRA predicts the introduction of low strength beers – dubbed the ‘People’s Pints’ - in pubs could be a huge boost to the licensed trade in light of new consumer research – out today - showing how 1 in 2 regular pub goers would like to see more pubs selling a low strength beer option.
Building on the success of a campaign which CAMRA has been leading since 2009, further new research has shown how pub goers would like to see more pubs selling low strength beers due to factors such as the ability to help regulate drinking levels, their more refreshing taste, their low calorie content, and their lower cost.

CAMRA estimates that someone drinking a pint in a pub could save 50p per pint if they choose a lower strength beer compared to an average 4% ABV bitter.

Mike Benner, CAMRA’s Chief Executive, said:

‘On the basis of today’s research, CAMRA believes the introduction of a low strength beer option in pubs could be a great selling point for all licensees looking to offer diversity and choice to their customers, as well as making it easier to regulate their drinking.

‘Brewers are proving it is wholly possible to brew a low strength real ale packed with flavour, and as we’ve emphasised before, introducing the ‘People’s Pint’ into pubs is a win-win scenario for both the industry and Government in promoting a responsible drinking message.

‘Lower strength beers also offer a great choice to the health-conscious consumer as they have fewer calories than stronger drinks, so there’s no need to ditch your pint if you are counting the calories and research has shown that they are effective in rehydrating***. With lower strength real ales you have a product that is natural, refreshing, and can be part of a healthy lifestyle.

‘A lower rate of duty on lower strength beers is a win-win scenario for the industry and for Government and CAMRA is urging the Government to call for the EU Excise Directives to be amended to enable beers up to 3.5% to benefit from a reduced rate of duty. This would provide a great boost for community pubs and responsible drinking.’
Lower Strength Taste Test

On the eve of the Great British Beer Festival CAMRA conducted a taste test to find out whether beer experts could differentiate between a low and mid strength real ale. In a tasting consisting of real ales from 2% to 3.5% ABV, even a panel of experienced drinkers did not manage to correctly differentiate the products.

As part of its continued campaigning, CAMRA is calling on the Government to extend the announced duty relief rate up to 3.5% ABV. Bearing in mind 19 different British real ales will be on show throughout the Festival week at or below 3.5% ABV, CAMRA is inviting consumers to come down and see for themselves the amount of flavour packed into low strength beers by Britain’s skilled craftsmen, and conduct their own taste tests.

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Notes to editors-
*With a pub working on a 50% gross profit, a punter switching from an average 4% bitter to a low strength beer (benefitting from the duty reduction) could save 50p.
**Results from CAMRA Omnibus Survey- June 2011
***Benelam, B. and Wyness, L. (2010), Hydration and health: a review. Nutrition Bulletin, March 2010
The duty reduction from October 2011 will not be available to small brewers who already receive duty relief up to 50%.

Great British Beer Festival opening times-
Tuesday August 2nd
-5.00pm to 10.30pm
Wednesday 3rd to Friday August 5th
-12noon to 10.30pm
Saturday August 6th
-11.00am to 7.00pm
Tickets- available from the official Festival website (www.gbbf.org.uk) or by calling See Tickets on 0844 412 4640.
Advance day tickets- £6 (CAMRA members), £8 (non-members)
Advance season tickets- £20 (CAMRA members), £23 (non-members)
Day tickets- £8 (CAMRA members), £10 (non-members)
Group bookings (10+)- £7 per person (CAMRA/non-CAMRA members), only available by phoning See Tickets on 0871 230 5594
More festival information – www.gbbf.org.uk
More CAMRA info – www.camra.org.uk
For further information-
CAMRA Press Office (From Monday 1st August - Saturday 6th August) - 020 7244 3925
Jon Howard, CAMRA Press Manager - 07939 425471
Mike Benner, CAMRA Chief Executive - 07971 591224
Iain Loe, CAMRA Research Manager - 07801 706607
Tony Jerome, CAMRA Head of Marketing - 07736 948186