New initiative launched to promote beer

A new initiative designed to celebrate beer and increase politicians, councillors and the public's understanding of the drink was launched in London on Monday.

'Britons Backing Beer', the brainchild of public relations expert and beer enthusiast Rupert Ponsonby, is promoting the idea of beer as a sociable drink and encouraging people to understand how it is made.

The idea is to promote and market beer in the same way as wine, to highlight the range and flavours and varities involved.

MPs, celebrities, barley and hop farmers, and a host of industry figures attended the launch event at Hix bar in Soho, Central London.

All the beers on offer were from celebrity brewers, including Hadley's Gold, from Tony Hadley, who attended the event.

Ponsonby told The Publican​ that it was a "non-campaign", as he regarded campaigns as "very serious and earnest".

"Beer is our national drink and we want people to come together in a social way," he said. "My job is to let people understand what beer is and let them be part of it."

"We need farmers of hops and barley to tell people how beer is put together and they understand that it's something that's really beautiful."

Ponsonby said he was also looking at the idea of a national beer week.

Future events under the 'Britons Backing Beer' banner are planned - including one in the House of Commons.

During a speech last night, ex-Labour MP John Grogan also called for an event to be held in "God's own country", Yorkshire.

Ponsonby said it was "highly likely" this would happen.