CAMRA's full pint campaign continues to gather pace

The Campaign for Real Ale's (CAMRA) call for a legal, 100 per cent liquid pint is gaining ground with widespread support from MPs and members of the public.

Posters, pledge cards and a website campaign have been used by the consumer group to stir up debate on the controversial issue.

In the month since the campaign was launched, the Department of Trade and Industry has received more than 2,000 pledge cards from people who would support legislation forcing licensees to serve a 100 per cent liquid pint.

The website petition attracted more than 500 pledges from people other than CAMRA members in its first week alone.

The consumer group believes the Government should honour its 1997 election promise and introduce full pint legislation.

But the trade claims a law would be unworkable and so costly to implement it could result in an increase in the price of a pint.

Licensee Stephen Tasker is so concerned about the prospect he has even launched his own anti-full pint campaign which has attracted a great deal of interest from fellow licensees.

CAMRA has also dismissed the trade's argument that a low number of complaints are received in proportion to the number of pints sold.

Last month in the House of Commons, competition minister Melanie Johnson listed the number of complaints the DTI has received about short pint measures.

Since 1997, 27 organisations have complained about short pint measures and 74 have expressed concern about the lack of a law.

The British Beer and Pub Association agrees a law needs to be introduced but wants the trade's guidelines of a 95 per cent liquid pint, with a top-up if necessary, put into legislation.

The Government has also signalled its determination to push ahead with the legislation. Last month the Leader of the House of Commons, Robin Cook, said short measures were of "great concern" to the public and MPs.

Similarly, Conservative MP Nicholas Winterton has congratulated CAMRA on "exposing the practice of selling the British public short on their pints".

Related stories:​

Licensee's full pint fight is gaining support (26 February 2002)

CAMRA faces pint challenge from licensee forming own group (7 February 2002)

CAMRA's pint row reaches House of Commons (1 February 2002)

CAMRA goes on full pint attack (25 January 2002)

CAMRA fights on for full pint (17 January 2002)