Protecting Community Pubs

My Role: Public Affairs Officer, CAMRA

During the run up to the General Election in 2010, I worked with CAMRA on a huge public affairs campaign, encouraging politicians and parliamentary candidates to sign up to a ‘Beer Drinkers and Pub Goers Charter.’

The Charter had been written in consultation with Landlords and brewers across the country, and was packed with measures designed to prevent the closure of even more well-run community pubs.

CAMRA’s members were mobilised to contact their candidates and ask them to sign. Over 650 candidates, including Nick Clegg (who became the Deputy Prime Minister) signed up, and the charter formed the basis for CAMRA’s lobbying during the next parliament.

Many of the measures outlined in the charter were implemented, including the scrapping of the Beer Duty Escalator and and the Beer Tax freeze.