How we got ourselves into this mess:
On this page I describe my experiences as a licensee since the late 1960's as I watched helplessly from within, the demise of the British Pub.
How I would stop this pub closure disaster:
Now in retirement in France, living on a British Barge, I have time to think about how to save this vital part of our culture.
As a taster: the fact that we have chosen to tax beer at a rate currently 42% per pint! ; higher than any other European Nation bar Finland!....this is akin to an otherwise healthy child, self harming. It is madness!
So please click on the above link for my solution to restore what is still a glorious part of our heritage and, if you have the same feelings as so many of us, please pass on the link to your friends and fellow pub and beer Lovers.
Then perhaps, one day, our politicians will understand the damage they have done and act to reverse the trend of closures.
Save our local pubs and our cask conditioned beer at the same time!
French beer v Real Ale - Cultural differences found in France that effect the drinking of alcohol:
Drinkers on the Continent drink differently to the British. This is not wrong or right, better or worse, it is just a fact, like driving on the right hand side of the road as opposed to the left. But.....
The above link is to my observations of the cultural and physiological differences between the consumption of alcohol in France and in Britain.
Do we really all want to be the same or should we treasure and protect our cultural differences?
A table comparing the alcoholic content by volume of beer and wine
This small table shows the dangers of the current trend for "brewing" ever stronger beers and wines and links the reason for this trend to clever marketing by the large "brewing" conglomerates who have persuaded the population to accept that there is a positive correlation between the strength and the quality of their products.
Another important and funny link you must look at:
A video film - Hitler berating his Generals about the lack of progress in the Campaign for Real Ale - well worth watching...it is poking fun at "Camra" and must have been very expensive to produce: - to have spent this money and by poking fun at Camra, it shows clearly that Camra obviously is a great force to be reckoned with!
....re-enforces my view that it is the brewing conglomerates and some Pub Co's who have the money to spend on promoting their more profitable lager beers - : who are therefore responsible for the growing consumption of more alcohol and the less sensible drinking.