Inez Ward: Food for thought

This trade is facing the biggest threat that it has ever had the misfortune to witness, the onslaught of the Health Alliance, anti-alcohol lobby or whatever you want to call them.

They have alcohol firmly in their sights, their guns are loaded and they are firing and this trade is going to have to deal with this! There is not a day goes by when we do not witness adverts telling the masses that they are killing themselves with alcohol, or a report or feature on the unacceptable actions of some intellectually challenged muppet fuelled by alcohol.

There were some in this trade that warned that this would be the next step following the Smoking ban. Whether you agree with their views on the smoking ban or not is immaterial, in this aspect they were right, is food next?

You can bet your bottom dollar it is, the writing is already on the wall for those who care to open their eyes and ears. Smoking first, alcohol now and then food well that would just about take care of the Great British Pub once and for all, wouldn't it?

This onslaught affects the whole trade from tenants, to managers, to freeholders, to suppliers, to pubcos, to trade groups and associations, to trade press and so the list goes on. The one common denominator in all of the above is the pub and without it, well need I say any more?

Whilst it is true that brewers and producers could move to the supermarkets etc, is this really the way forward, do they really think that the supermarkets won't operate exactly the same as they have in any other area of their business, do the producers believe that they won't be squeezed dry? Food for thought hey?

So we see an area of concern that affects the whole trade, do we see the whole trade working together? Do we see the whole trade standing side by side and working together to protect itself from the obvious onslaught?

Do we see the benefits of the Great British Pub, such as the vital role in many a community, the vital role in the country as a whole, the retailing of alcohol responsibly and the social networking aspect etc, being promoted and promoted hard?

Very disappointingly, we do not, or definitely not enough of it! We see arguing and fighting, we see point-scoring, we see agendas (political and non-political) and we see a distinct lack of care for the Great British Pub, which is somewhat bemusing in itself!

Why the hell can't this trade work together on areas that it is in agreement on? Does it really matter that we disagree on other areas, it would appear that it does! We see politicians working together on areas that they agree on, hence cross party alliances and yet they most certainly don't agree on everything.

So what do we do, do we continue on the path that we currently tread and in years to come sit our children or grand children on our knee and tell them of all the benefits that the Great British Pub had to offer, once they have been confined to the annals of history? Are we going to have to say those immortal words, could have, should have, would have? Or do we stand together and fight for the wonderful institution that is the Great British Pub?

Do we stand united or do we fall divided? Your trade, your pubs, your choice!