The Campaign for Real Ale signed up its 75,000th member during NationalPubs Week (NPW) and is now three quarters of the way towards reaching its target of 100,000 by 2007. Early estimates suggest that around 15,000 pubs took part in NPW, which ended on 26 February. Next week's edition of the Morning Advertiser will have a full round up of NPW.
Interbrew refutes T&GWU claim
The Transport and General Workers Union has accused Interbrew of a "lastvindictive act" against Boddington's workers at the Strangeways brewery who had fought to save their jobs. The union claims the company has reneged on a deal to retrain and transfer staff. Interbrew denied the claim.
What's in it' kicks off at university
Diageo and the National Union of Students have teamed up to launch afour-week drinks awareness campaign at Strathclyde University in Glasgow. The "What's in it" campaignuses methods such as stickers on toilet mirrors and "Post it" notes in library books to promote the sensible-drinking message.
30 displays for Black Sheep fair
The 10th Black Sheep Brewery Trade Fair will be held at Thirsk Racecourse in North Yorkshire. The show will house more than 30 trade stands ranging across a wide variety of businesses, such as soft drinks suppliers, cleaning equipment sellers and cigar importers.
Leicester moots plastic bottles
Pubs in Leicester have been warned they may be forced to use plastic bottles as part of a clampdown on disorder by North Leicestershire District Council. Police say they will press for the restrictions at premises where violence regularly occurs and also back the council's saturation policy for the town.
Reinheitsgebot case resolved
The Klosterbrauerei Neuzelle Brewery in Germany has won its 10-year legal battle against the Reinheitsgebot purity law. The law, which date back to 1516, limits beer ingredients to malted grain, hops, yeast and water.The brewery's SchwarzerAbt beer will now be ableto be marketed as a "special beer" despite having sugar syrup added to it after fermentation.