Beer Group chair outlines big issues

By John Harrington

- Last updated on GMT

Related tags All-party parliamentary beer Member of parliament Public house

Beer Group chair has new chairman
Beer Group chair has new chairman
The new All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group chairman Alan Meale sets out his priorities for the year ahead.

Addressing pub closures, promoting beer among younger drinkers and creating a "very strong lobbying system" are the three priorities for the new All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group chairman.

Labour MP Alan Meale has already spoken to Beer Group secretary Robert Humphreys and some member MPs about the plans.

Meale, who has replaced John Grogan in the role, told the Morning Advertiser​: "We've got to look at a number of issues.

"Number one, what's happening with pub closures? We need to get more support for pubs themselves, and not just in rural communities, but in urban areas.

"The second thing is we have got to give every support to organisations such as the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) to promote beer, particularly among young people.

"Thirdly, we have to build up a very strong lobbying system with members of

Parliament to take up issues before they are just 'bundled' on to beer drinkers."

The Mansfield MP gave the example of the smoking ban, adding: "There's legislation coming through all the time. We need to be talking about all these issues — all the time — about how they affect the pub.

"We must also get back to the Government and ask them to look at the problems affecting the industry and ask if they can do things to help."

He highlighted the Government's decision to re-verse the 10%-above-inflation increase in cider tax and suggested similar help could be given to beer.

He said the group would also "re-visit" the issue of the beer tie among other subjects, including Sky costs and supermarkets.

Meale said Beer Group members will be polled on what specific steps they want the Group to take in early September.

There would also be lobbying organised around the political party conferences in the autumn, he added.

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