Only one in three have tried real ale

Just one in three Britons have tried a pint of real ale, according to new research from Camra.

The research shows that just 35% of British adults who drink alcohol have tried real ale compared to 61% of Irish people who have tried their national stout drink and 84% of the French who have tried wine.

Camra is urging adults to get a long to the festival at Earl's Court to try their national drink.

"Research shows only one in three British drinkers have tried real ale, which is a real growth opportunity for British pubs facing unprecedented pressures from the credit crunch, falling consumer confidence, high tax rates and increasing utility and raw material costs," said Camra chief executive Mike Benner.

"Now is the time for campaigners and the beer industry to work together to get British people to try and to appreciate real ale.

"Our culture and heritage is intrinsically linked with ale, as a great British product brewed and enjoyed sociably in community pubs for generations, yet most people haven't even tried it."

Camra believes there is now more ale choice than ever before with around 700 independent breweries brewing approximately 2,500 different real ales - 450 of which are featured at the Great British Beer.

Benner added: "Real ale is growing its share of the on-trade beer market as consumers abandon global brands and search out natural, often locally brewed ales with real provenance.

"I think people increasingly care about what's in their glass, where it comes from and what it brings to the community and local economy. It's a wake-up call for pub bosses to recognise this trend and realise that real ale is the USP of the British pub."