According to reports more than five million people in the UK claim they are going without a drink during January, a figure which is up by a million on last year. Not surprisingly many pubs, and even breweries, are struggling to cope with such a massive dip in trade, and with pubs closing at a rate of four per day - the highest shrinkage since 2004 - there are concerns that the number of people starting the year by giving up on the booze, could tip many businesses over the edge.
Tom Stainer, CAMRA's new Chief Executive said: "As an organisation which helps to support pubs, we believe there are other ways in which people can be encouraged to support charities, without being a detriment to small businesses." He went on to say, "This is already a difficult time of year for pubs, and a few quiet weeks can sometimes mean the difference between surviving or not."
It is worth noting that the number of pubs has slumped from 69,000 in 1980 to fewer than 50,000 today. In 1979 pubs sold 29.2m pints of beer a day, but this fell to 10.9 million last year.
The Dry January campaign was founded four years ago by Alcohol Concern, a registered "charity" which also happens to be a front for the temperance movement. The latter of course are pressing for further restrictions on drinking and curbs on people’s enjoyment, so the news that this year's campaign is being backed by Public Health England, a quango affiliated to the Department of Health, is doubly unwelcome.
Martin Caffrey, of the Federation of Licensed Victuallers, hit back against this government-backed interference in the licensed trade, by saying "We know millions have signed up to go dry in January, but our argument is that as an organisation we promote responsible drinking right through the year. That's the way people should treat alcohol."
January can be the month which breaks a publican’s business. This one month can undermine all the hard work of the year before and, at a time when most people are looking forward to the year ahead, starts the New Year off on a real low. If you really care about our pubs it is definitely NOT the month to be going dry!
8 comments:
Agree with virtue signalling comments, Paul, though I reckon 90% of people proclaiming their abstinence hardly ever go to a pub anyway, and it's a cutdown on their gin and wine from Tesco they're telling us about !
I'm sure you are right, Martin. I don't actually know anyone who is doing Dry January this year. Perhaps I don't mix in the right circles!
The pubs around us seem very quiet, Paul.
As Martin pointed out re his recent trip here, Brain's pubs are typically reducing all their own brews by 20 - 30%.
Let's hope that the pubs get through it, but this year's lull seems very noticeable, as - on the other hand - did the excesses up to and during Christmas and New Year. Why don't people just show some common during December instead?
I'm doing dry jan (I have my reasons) but can't say I've been to the pub any less this month.
Etu, common sense amongst the English is in short supply at the moment, and has been for the past two and a half years.
Keith, you are the first person I'm aware of who is doing Dry January. Normally, one or two colleagues have given it a go, but not this year. I imagine the distractions at both home and abroad, and the resultant uncertainty, have played a part in this.
I'm really dubious about the concept of virtue signalling. It seems to be some twaddle invented by right wing Americans.
I share your concerns Ed, but the expression is just two words. Sometimes they can be used properly - as I would say Paul does here - but equally they can be used unjustly, as the cynics on the Right often do.
Their standard ploy is to accuse, expressly or implicitly, their target of thinking a given malign thought, or being motivated by some nefarious intent.
Naturally, no one can prove that they were not thinking a given thought, and so the squalid low-life then claim that as a victory. Especially as they all clamour in primitive, tribal, chest-beating agreement.
The term "political correctness" has been worse applied, perhaps.
Just to clarify things here; I use the term “Virtue Signalling” to highlight the “look at me” type of people, who post self-centred stuff about themselves on social media – Instagram and Facebook. These individuals are those constantly seeking the approval, particularly from their peers, but also friends and family.
These are the sort of people most likely to be bragging about how virtuous they are, in giving up the demon drink for January.
I must admit to not having been aware of the meaning, or indeed use of “Virtue Signalling” that you allude to Ed, but I can see where you are coming from.
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