Tory pub quiz to help save pubs

Conservatives will be educated on the plight of the Great British pub, thanks to a pub quiz held at their annual conference in October.

The Tories launched a Save the Great British pub campaign in February this year calling for a cut in taxes on lower alcohol drinks, enforcing existing laws rather than new legislation, trusting adults to make informed decisions and supporting the pub as a vital part of local community.

Party chairman Eric Pickles is to host the quiz, which is being sponsored by the British Beer and Pub Association's Axe the Beer Tax campaign. "We will raise awareness of the threat to our pubs as well as bring delegates together for a high profile pub quiz.

"In addition we hope to have some celebrity and senior party representatives delivering the questions, including William Roach and Michael Dobbs."

The quiz will be held in the pub at the Palace Hotel in Manchester on Monday 5 October. The Tories are calling on teams of four to six to be made up with prizes including shopping and restaurant vouchers.

Tory candidate for Cheltenham Mark Coote said: "Many landlords and licensees are finding it tough, with fewer people coming through the door.

"The tax on beer is penalising pubs and they are being undermined by cheap and irresponsible sales of alcohol in supermarkets and other retail outlets.

"I undertook a survey of 35 of Cheltenham's smaller pubs, which demonstrates a mixed picture. These community assets need our continued support and the Chancellor need to get alcohol taxation right.

"I believe we should cut taxes on lower alcoholic drinks such as low alcohol beers and raise taxes on problem drinks like high strength ciders and alcopops in order to use the tax system to target binge drinking whilst ensuring that responsible drinkers and the traditional British pub are not unfairly penalised."