Last night the great and the good of the pub and brewing trade descended on Parliament to quaff free booze and celebrate the work of the all-party Parliamentary beer group.
An impassioned speech was given by Michael Turner, chairman of Fuller’s and the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA), reiterating calls for the Chancellor to freeze beer duty in his forthcoming Budget while warning that Britain’s pubs were under serious and sustained pressure.
Labour MP John Grogan, head of the all-party Parliamentary beer group, joined him by offering an olive branch to Tesco’s boss Sir Terence (Terry) Leahy after he described him as being the “godfather of British binge drinking” earlier this month for his cut price approach to selling booze.
He offered his best wishes for the festive season to all who had joined him and said he would even express these wishes to Sir Terry – despite the resounding jeers and boos from the on-trade at the mention of his name.
Well, if the beer group is to make true on its promise last night to see supermarkets stop selling alcohol below cost, every little helps.
