tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3585028625507474093.post6526290007334925191..comments2023-10-17T15:56:22.827+01:00Comments on Velvet Glove, Iron Fist: The hubris of CAMRAChristopher Snowdonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15963753745009712865noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3585028625507474093.post-65735720819833879132012-01-27T16:10:39.169+00:002012-01-27T16:10:39.169+00:00Which just goes to show the utter uselessness of s...Which just goes to show the utter uselessness of surveys.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3585028625507474093.post-65772549855820803162012-01-27T09:16:33.301+00:002012-01-27T09:16:33.301+00:00From DA.
Millions will return to the Pub after Sm...From DA.<br /><br />Millions will return to the Pub after Smoking Ban - 20/02/07<br /> <br />"A new survey by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has revealed the public's attitudes to the forthcoming smoking ban in England and Wales later in 2007. <br /><br />The sample survey's key findings indicated that:<br /><br />6.2 million people (17% of all adults in England and Wales) who visit pubs regularly are likely to visit pubs more often. Of that group 97% were non-smokers. <br /><br />840,000 people who currently never go to a pub said they will after the smoking ban. Added to the figure for people who currently visit regularly that is a total of 7,040,000 people who will visit pubs more often. <br /><br />93% of real ale drinkers said they would be more likely to visit pubs more often or that their visiting habits would not be changed by the ban. See table 1. <br /><br />68% of regular smokers say it will not change their pub visiting habits at all. <br /><br />69% of all adults said it would not affect their visits to pubs at all, only 3% said they would not visit pubs at all as a result of the ban. <br /><br />Smokers are typically lager drinkers (43% of lager drinkers said they smoke). See table 2 <br /><br />CAMRA Chief Executive Mike Benner said: “This survey shows that non-smokers will be attracted to pubs after the ban comes into force, and many of them would like to find a real ale waiting for them when they get there. <br /><br />“The smoking ban will be a difficult transition for licensees, but it is encouraging that only 3% of people surveyed by CAMRA said they would not visit pubs at all as a result of the ban. The key will be to ensure that other factors such as quality of real ale, food, atmosphere and welcome are all superb. If this is the case then the traditional Community Pub will have a bright and healthy future.”<br /> <br />http://www.camra.org.uk/page.aspx?o=233600Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3585028625507474093.post-1895893347277445112012-01-27T09:14:28.237+00:002012-01-27T09:14:28.237+00:00From Dave Atherton.
Real ale alone does not suppo...From Dave Atherton.<br /><br />Real ale alone does not support a pub.<br /><br />"A year on from smoking ban in England and Wales the volume of beer sold in pubs is down by 8%. The impact of the smoking ban, the promotion of cheap supermarket alcohol and economic uncertainty mean that many pubs are under pressure. During 2007 CAMRA found that 57 pubs a month were bulldozed or converted into other uses.<br /><br />Among this doom and gloom there is reason to be optimistic about real ale sales and by extension about the future of pubs that serve good quality real ale. Pub chain JD Wetherspoons has reported that in the wake of the smoking ban real ale sales are up and leading real ale brewer Greene King has reported a 6% increase in their beer volumes.<br /><br />These figures reflect a general optimism in the industry that real ale volumes could be about to return to growth. It also reflects figures release by CAMRA in early 2007 that reported that only 25% of real ale drinkers smoke compared to 43% of lager drinkers.”<br /><br />http://www.camra.org.uk/page.aspx?o=280291Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3585028625507474093.post-61466186315316981272012-01-27T09:12:27.908+00:002012-01-27T09:12:27.908+00:00From Dave Atherton.
In 2004 they were sound.
&qu...From Dave Atherton.<br /><br />In 2004 they were sound.<br /><br />"CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, expresses concern that the smoking ban will be divisive for community pubs. Community pubs will face the stark choice of tearing up their food menus or alienating regulars by banning smoking.<br /> <br />CAMRA calls on the Government to allow pubs where there are two or more entirely separate rooms to allow smoking in one, while other rooms where food is served are made smoke free.<br /> <br />Mike Benner, Chief Executive of CAMRA, raised concerns about the proposals<br /> <br />http://www.camra.org.uk/page.aspx?o=180806Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3585028625507474093.post-34177671949164618502012-01-26T19:57:04.567+00:002012-01-26T19:57:04.567+00:00So they are complaining about supermarkets selling...So they are complaining about supermarkets selling 'cheap' booze? Is the cheap booze which supermarkets sell real ale? And if it is, shouldn't camra be really pleased? Who needs pubs in order to drink real ale?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3585028625507474093.post-44970721118218700442012-01-26T18:43:53.348+00:002012-01-26T18:43:53.348+00:00Frankly I'm amazed that you can get CAMRA to p...Frankly I'm amazed that you can get CAMRA to produce a position or statement at all.<br /><br />Every CAMRA event I've been to has just been full of people who clearly drink too much ale getting about the business of drinking too much ale. I've yet to meet a CAMRA member who cares about anything other than that.John Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07437765041360086205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3585028625507474093.post-78762462661582829402012-01-26T17:30:05.733+00:002012-01-26T17:30:05.733+00:00Before the smoking ban there was a LOT of debate a...Before the smoking ban there was a LOT of debate about it within CAMRA. I was a member at the time (had been for 20 years, despite being non-bearded) and was in touch with them a lot, I also wrote a piece against the ban for their monthly paper. But they also published e.g. a pro-ban article and letters from ASH. I strongly suspect they were targeted by an ASH letter-writing & PR campaign. Anyway there were people opposed to a ban within CAMRA but they were overruled and actually silenced by some of the 'top people' and I believe that now, having cast their lot with the Antis, they are too embarrassed to admit they were wrong. I resigned my membership when the ban was passed and their paper came out with the headline 'Relief over smoking ban!' They seem to have forgotten their original purpose - to promote free choice for both publicans and customers, including minorities (they say most real ale drinkers don't smoke, but they don't say that there are more smokers than there are real ale drinkers). I agree that CAMRA is now pretty much useless . . . they have become part of the problem rather than part of the solution.Joe Jacksonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3585028625507474093.post-88965757935339022102012-01-26T14:08:55.232+00:002012-01-26T14:08:55.232+00:00Fat twTs with beards boring the arse off everyone ...Fat twTs with beards boring the arse off everyone else. Also dubious personal hygiene in many cases.<br /><br />Real ale can be fantastic, but ironically the image of Camra members is possibly the biggest problem it has.Robnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3585028625507474093.post-28510077520703317132012-01-26T13:59:24.648+00:002012-01-26T13:59:24.648+00:00And here's an example of real ale being associ...And <a href="http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/latest-news/central-leeds/batley_to_stalybridge_fast_track_to_trouble_on_the_real_ale_trail_1_4035086" rel="nofollow">here's an example</a> of real ale being associated with unruly behaviour (although tbh I suspect most of what is being complained about is just the usual rowdy lads' and girls' nights out)Curmudgeonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02558747878308766840noreply@blogger.com