All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group

This article is part of the Spinwatch public health oriented Alcohol Portal project.

The All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group, formed as the Parliamentary Beer Club in 1993, promotes understanding amongst Parliamentarians of the United Kingdom beer and pubs industries. Over 300 MPS and Peers of all parties are in membership. Around 60 UK MEPs are honorary members of the Group, which is supported by 50 individual brewing and licensed retailing companies, as affiliated corporate members. An officially registered all-party parliamentary group, the Group is the largest industry group at Westminster. The aim of this group is said to be: "to promote the wholesomeness and enjoyment of beer and the unique role of the pub in UK society; to increase understanding of the social, cultural and historic role of brewing and pubs in the UK, and their value to tourism; to broaden recognition of the contribution of brewing and pubs to employment and to the UK economy; to promote understanding of the social responsibility exercised by the brewing and pub industries; to support the UK's brewing industry worldwide, and to promote a positive future for beer and the pub"

The leader of the group, MP John Grogan, joined S&N and CAMRA in condemning supermarkets for using beer as a loss leader in order to lure customers into their stores. Supermarkets are criticised for selling alcohol so cheaply that other shops simply can't compete. Campaigners, including the drinks industry and MPs, have branded the pricing structure irresponsible. CAMRA are concerned that the supermarkets are contributing to the waning popularity of British beer in a letter to the Competition Commission. They are also urging individuals to lobby their MP to sign Early Day Motion 495 tabled by John Grogan.

This article is part of the Lobbying Portal, a sunlight project from Spinwatch.

Early Day Motion 495 (tabled on January 2, 2007) was drafted by The Publican newspaper and states: “That this House believes that the substantial price differential between alcohol sold in pubs and that sold in the off-trade is exacerbating the problem of binge drinking; continues to support the pub trade's efforts to curb irresponsible drinking and promotions; and urges supermarkets and off-licences to follow the example of pubs and act to end irresponsible drinks promotions and agree not to use alcohol as a loss leader on their premises.” A total of 194 MPs signed.

A survey by CAMRA revealed that in some supermarkets Fosters and Carling was available for the equivalent of just 54p a pint - or 16p before tax. CAMRA, members of parliament, trade press and pub industry chiefs are calling for urgent action to prevent promotions that serve to exacerbate the problem of binge drinking.

In a memorandum from the Beer Group to the Treasury select committee the following positions were taken by the group (October 2000):

• The group is not convinced that the legal drinking age needs to be as high as 18 years old in the UK, the government should research lowering the legal drinking age. Although they do conclude (as did the Home Office) that the main obstacle to lowering the age limit is that it may be "politically difficult".
• Smuggling could be eliminated by cutting the tax duty paid on alcohol. A clamp down on smuggling would also free up police and customs officers to focus on more important tasks and end the social problems associated with smuggling for example sales to children.
• Increasing beer duty would reduce consumption which would mean less tax would be generated, unemployment would rise and benefit payments would increase.

MP Officers

• John Grogan Labour,
• Nigel Evans Conservative,
• Jane Griffiths Labour,
• Nigel Jones Liberal Democrats,
• Nick Hawkins Conservative,
• Bill Olner Labour,

BENEFITS RECEIVED BY GROUP FROM SOURCES OUTSIDE PARLIAMENT

Compiled in 2007 from the Register of All-Party Groups, UK Parliament:

• £4,100 each from, Interbrew UK, Pubmaster Group Ltd, Punch Taverns Group plc, Scottish & Newcastle plc, Enterprise Inns plc, Unique Pub Co Ltd, and Coors Brewers.
• £2,562 each from Anheuser-Busch Ltd, Carlsberg Tetley, and the Laurel Pub Co.
• £1,537 each from the Wolverhampton & Dudley Breweries and Greene King plc.
• £512 each from S A Brain, Hardys and Hansons, InnSpired Group, Shepherd Neame, Whitbread plc, Wadworths, Charles Wells Ltd, Daniel Thwaites plc, and Youngs.
• At the group's annual dinner on 9 July 2003 hospitality was provided by: Anheuser-Busch, Caledonian Brewery, Carlsberg-Tetley, Coors Brewers, Enterprise Inns, Northern Clubs' Federation Brewery, Greene King plc, Harvey & Sons, InnSpired Group, Interbrew UK, The Laurel Pub Co, Mitchells & Butlers, Pubmaster Group Ltd, Regent Inns, Scottish & Newcastle plc, Shepherd Neame, Unique Pub Co, Wolverhampton & Dudley Breweries, Youngs, Hook Norton Brewery, Fuller, Smith & Turner, Whitbread plc, Cobra Beers Ltd, St Austell Brewery, Charles Wells Ltd, S A Brain, The Punch Pub Co, Jennings Brothers plc, Adnams plc, Refresh UK plc, Diageo plc, Timothy Taylor & Co Ltd (all the above registered July 2003).
• £4,100 each from Mitchells & Butlers, Diageo plc.
• £1537.50 from The Spirit Group.
• £512.50 each from Fuller, Smith & Turner, Hall & Woodhouse, Northern Clubs' Federation Brewery (registered October 2003).
• £1,281 from SAB Miller plc (registered December 2003).