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Friday, May 15, 2009

Comment on Fair Pint — the story behind the campaigners

http://www.morningadvertiser.co.uk/news.ma/ViewArticle?R=83026

It's not over until the fat lady sings!

There can be no doubt that the 2008 BEC pubcos report is a watershed in British pub history. Its depth and thoroughness lays the foundations of change for what could, if handled sensitively, become a golden age for pubs. It is now incumbent upon everyone in the pub trade, from established trade institutions, major and small brewers and pub companies to individual licensees to work together in forging a new contract for the pub industry that is equitable and balanced which makes the most of and shares the industry's enormous potential while mapping out a new, dynamic pub sector that is fit for purpose for the 21st century.

The first substantial challenge for the pub industry is to find a way for everyone to talk to each other while taking notice of all the warts and boils which have been ignored for so long to the pub trade's detriment.

The goal should be on creating a high quality, diverse and sustainable (in all its meanings) industry which serves the consumer well at every level of demand while taking fair account of all the different levels of participation needed within the industry to deliver that goal to the consumer.

That being said the next thing that NEEDS to happen is for the recommendations of the BEC report to be put into action. The most important of these quite clearly is putting the industry in front of the Competition Commission (note the pubcos and others saying there's no need for CC - and ask WHY they say there's no need - and compare this with what they were saying a year ago: "there's no need for another Select Committee inquiry, if it happens we welcome the opportunity to show just how far we've come since 2004").

YOU, as an individual, can help this along if you are a tied licensee by coming to the Fair Pint Lobby day next Wednesday. We now have 170 MPs and 130 individual licensees attending. Imagine being part of this and having an exciting day out too!

You can start that here: http://www.fairpint.org.uk/lobbyday.html if you have ANY questions about the Lobby Day please call Fair Pint on 020 7222 3533 or email us on info@fairpint.org.uk and we'll try to help.

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