tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post7072512495405456988..comments2024-03-25T18:49:00.608+00:00Comments on The Pub Curmudgeon: Speak up for drinkers!Curmudgeonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02558747878308766840noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-66766768869446491932010-02-01T19:05:42.519+00:002010-02-01T19:05:42.519+00:00RedNev,
That may prove to be a valuable reform, b...RedNev,<br /><br />That may prove to be a valuable reform, but it isn't in any sense countering the neo-Prohibitionists, which is what the poll was about.Curmudgeonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02558747878308766840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-1153458092317532522010-02-01T16:03:04.751+00:002010-02-01T16:03:04.751+00:00Does CAMRA successfully campaigning for the revoca...Does CAMRA successfully campaigning for the revocation of Land Agreements Exclusion Order 2004, which more or less exempts PubCos from competition laws, count as an example of standing up for drinkers? As I'm sure you know, the government's scrapped them from April 2011.Neville Grundyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10923209266005338452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-55635385296842223562010-02-01T13:30:13.055+00:002010-02-01T13:30:13.055+00:00I don't remember that line in Martin Niemoelle...I don't remember that line in Martin Niemoeller's 'poem'.<br />:-)<br /><br />Is it a poem I wonder?Paul Garrardhttp://www.realaleblog.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-79068486791488911792010-01-31T20:44:43.553+00:002010-01-31T20:44:43.553+00:00Kristy - that point may actually be worthy of a po...Kristy - that point may actually be worthy of a post in its own right. Watch this space.<br /><br />Cookie - <i>Your beer club is not representative of drinkers, therefore expressing a wider political view on the price of my lout is unwelcome.</i><br /><br />As you know, I agree ;-)Curmudgeonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02558747878308766840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-52701743361300762782010-01-31T20:41:54.120+00:002010-01-31T20:41:54.120+00:00I voted "it's a waste of space" not ...I voted "it's a waste of space" not to be rude but more that as a beer club its sounds quite nice. As a campaign there is nothing wrong with encouraging people to appreciate a traditional product. Your beer club is not representative of drinkers, therefore expressing a wider political view on the price of my lout is unwelcome.Cooking Lagerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02830924433230427226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-80006061832144744172010-01-31T20:40:03.840+00:002010-01-31T20:40:03.840+00:00Great point - which says more about the validity s...Great point - which says more about the validity sensible drinking guidelines than it does about CAMRA!!<br /><br />I think, as you've already mentioned, they should be one thing or the other and with all the media noise now feels like make or break time. If they're not prepared to come out in defence of the responsible enjoyment of beer then they need to be clear that they are a beer clubKristyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02641030168757305205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-63931961232466485332010-01-31T19:56:04.831+00:002010-01-31T19:56:04.831+00:00For most of its members, in reality CAMRA is a bee...For most of its members, in reality CAMRA is a beer drinkers' club. It puts together a calendar of social meetings and pub crawls, publishes local newsletters, runs brewery trips, organises beer festivals etc. Any national campaigning is something of an irrelevance, and has become more so as the network of specialist pubs grows and insulates the beer buff from the wider world.<br /><br />A further problem is that many of CAMRA's activities by definition drive a coach and horses through the official safe drinking guidelines, so it is hard to stand up and be counted without a frontal challenge to the politically correct orthodoxy. You can't argue the case on the terms of the opposition, otherwise you will lose.<br /><br />For example, the average consumption of beer at CAMRA beer festivals is said to be 3.5 pints. This is often seen as a surprisingly low figure, but if we assume the average strength is 4.5% ABV, that amounts to 9 units, which is a "binge", even for a man. "CAMRA promotes binge drinking" - doesn't look good, does it? And if you go in the average well-run traditional community local at 10.45 on a Friday night, odds are that a high proportion of customers will have consumed at least four pints during the evening.Curmudgeonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02558747878308766840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-50734513517615902372010-01-31T19:31:00.745+00:002010-01-31T19:31:00.745+00:00I missed the original poll but having just read th...I missed the original poll but having just read the original, and excellent, post I would've voted that yes, they need to speak out.<br /><br />Whilst I agree that what they do best is be a non-political beer drinkers club they have previously put themselves out in the political agenda and now, at a time when the more positive messages we can get out there about responsible drinking the better, a body like this that is recognised by many should feel a responsibility to stand up and champion beer - even if it is only pongy ale ;o)Kristyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02641030168757305205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-82484949847267970612010-01-31T09:35:28.184+00:002010-01-31T09:35:28.184+00:00Righto. Although my first alcoholic drink was McMu...Righto. Although my first alcoholic drink was McMullen's AK, and some people doubt the 'undiluted' status of that particular ale.Brian, follower of Deornothhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11941277617617928470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-71764155806365371062010-01-30T17:49:30.050+00:002010-01-30T17:49:30.050+00:00Back in those days shandy wasn't really regard...Back in those days shandy wasn't really regarded as an alcoholic drink, whereas now the Righteous would react with horror to someone under-18 having something that is about 1.5% ABV.<br /><br />Perhaps think about when you first had an undiluted alcoholic drink.Curmudgeonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02558747878308766840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5623537812609722663.post-40050839891873061182010-01-30T17:43:35.132+00:002010-01-30T17:43:35.132+00:00I have signed up to your current poll, but I can&#...I have signed up to your current poll, but I can't be sure I've answered correctly. I first drank shandy in various clubs (cricket clubs; that was what 'club' meant in those days) at the age of 14 (I think they'd prefer to remain nameless, given the current climate).<br /><br />Is that what you had in mind?Brian, follower of Deornothhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11941277617617928470noreply@blogger.com