The Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) has called on publicans to stock more regional beers to help the environment.

The plea comes ahead of the Great British Beer Festival, which starts tomorrow, with the intent to promote local beers alongside other regional foodstuffs and revitalise regional brewing houses.

According to Camra, 46% of beer sales last year were in cans or non-returnable bottles and the combined effects of waste and "beer miles" – the cost of transporting beers around the country – made drinking international brands environmentally unsound.

Mike Benner, chief executive of Camra, said: “We’re all becoming more environmentally conscious and drinking a local real ale in a pub is one way of making a small but significant contribution to save the world and promote local economies in a food and drink market dominated by global companies. 

“Draught real ale means no wasted beer cans or bottles and if you choose a locally brewed beer, you’ll help reduce unnecessary beer miles.”

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By Christopher Walton

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