SIBA backs Publican's Make it the Minimum
The Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) has become the latest group to back The Publican's Make it The Minimum campaign.
At a SIBA council meeting yesterday, members voted unanimously in favour of supporting the idea of a minimum price on a unit of alcohol.
The Publican launched its Make it the Minimum campaign in October, in a bid to end the continuing irresponsible loss-leading, below-cost alcohol deals being run by the supermarkets.
So far the Campaign for Real Ale, the Federation of Licensed Victuallers' Associations, brewer Coors, MP John Grogan and scores of licensees have voiced their support for the campaign - which is aiming for a 50p minimum on a unit of alcohol.
A 10 Downing Street petition on the issue has also currently attracted 366 signatures.
Keith Bott, SIBA's president and managing director of Titanic Brewery told The Publican, previously there was reluctance around supporting the idea of government intervention on price.
But he added: "With the government currently interfering so much anyway with beer duty increases we think this is the only way to deal with the problem.
"The price differential between the on-trade and off-trade is just too excessive and will only continue to damage the British pub."
Pledging SIBA's support for Make it the Minimum, he added: "The campaign is a pragmatic solution to the problem facing the industry and it's only right that as an organisation that relies so much on the British pub we support the Publican's initiative."
