MPs rush to ban Cocaine
MPs with a keen interest in the pub trade have rushed to sign Keith Vaz's Early Day Motion (EDM) condemning plans to launch energy drink Cocaine in the UK, Snifter notes. The number includes All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group members Rudi Vis and Janet Deane, whose constituency is Britain's brewing capital, Burton.
Alan Meale, past chairman of the group, has also added his name, alongside pubco critic Lindsay Hoyle, who sits on the Business and Enterprise Committee, set to scrutinise pubcos.
Thirty-four MPs had signed the EDM at the time of going to press.
Anti-pubco action
Talking of Parliamentary petitions, Snifter was interested to see that high- profile MPs have signed Lib Dem Tim Farron's anti-pubco EDM over the past few weeks.
Tory matriarch Ann Widdecombe, former Mr Cheeky Girl Lembit Opik, and ex-sports minister Kate Hoey are among the 54 MPs to have signed the motion.
Farron's EDM calls for a fresh Competition Commission probe into pubcos and "notes with concern" that pubcos "failed" to adopt the recommendations of the 2004 Parliamentary inquiry into their conduct.
Snifter assumed that the announcement of the new Business and Enterprise Committee inquiry into pubcos would deter new MPs from signing the EDM, but evidently it's still of concern to many honourable members.
Licensee swears by ban
West Yorkshire licensee Barry Taylor has given his support to the London hosts who were turfed out of their pub by its owner for banning people from swearing. Taylor banned cussing from his pub, the Brown Cow, in Keighley, five years ago and maintains: "It's the best thing we ever did.
"We don't get the idiots in. We get people who know how to control themselves and are respectful to others. All our customers know how to control themselves."
The Timothy Taylors tenant added: "Trade did drop [after swearing was banned], but it picked up because the people who come here support what we
do."
Host can't wait to see star
Hampshire licensee Jacqui Clapp hopes meat loaf will prove a success at her pub. No, it's not some new gastro-concept; she's asked the rock legend of the same name to perform at her pub after his recent disappointing show at nearby Broadlands House.
The Bat Out of Hell singer was criticised for his show, with some punters complaining of the below-par sound quality and overall performance.
Clapp, of the Red Lion in Totton, told the Hampshire Chronicle: "I'm giving Meat Loaf a challenge — come back and show us all that you can still rock.
"He could come and play a show at the end of the summer after the tour is finished and before he flies back to the States.
"If he did that, all would be forgiven."
