tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6722137562852954269.post8843131612156172923..comments2024-03-28T12:16:58.318+00:00Comments on Paul's Beer & Travel Blog: A few thoughts and some beer-related storiesPaul Baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09678639237696546268noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6722137562852954269.post-37092032349748293572021-01-14T21:18:42.038+00:002021-01-14T21:18:42.038+00:00Sheffield Hatter, the debate about beer duty incen...Sheffield Hatter, the debate about beer duty incentives to small brewers, has been dragging on for some time, and I don't pretend to have looked at it in depth. <br /><br />It does seem strange that small brewers should be given preferential rates of duty, based solely on size/output, so I appreciate why medium sized breweries are feeling the pinch. A level playing field would make perfect sense - now where have we heard that before?<br /><br />Peter, I added the link, back to our blog, as I forgot to include it first time around. Going back to "Evil Harvey's," these self-appointed guardians of the "man in a shed" are probably blissfully unaware of the support and assistance given by Harvey's, over the year to local micros. I know which beer I'm missing right now, and it's not an over-hopped, hazy looking, citrus-flavoured milkshake! Paul Baileyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09678639237696546268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6722137562852954269.post-19599663576881148262021-01-14T11:36:02.473+00:002021-01-14T11:36:02.473+00:00Thanks for the mention Paul. It was my intention t...Thanks for the mention Paul. It was my intention to follow the aspect you highlight on my blog and I will likely do so still.<br /><br />There is though plenty more hypocrisy yet to mention. I'm glad that you noticed my point. <br /><br />An as Martin says. Pubs. That is always key.Tandlemanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06804499573827044693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6722137562852954269.post-44392209889114497252021-01-14T03:34:25.484+00:002021-01-14T03:34:25.484+00:00It's hardly surprising that a business - any b...It's hardly surprising that a business - any business - will argue for a tax system that suits them. It is naive in the extreme to expect anything different from capitalist companies - that's not a criticism, but a fact of life: they are not set up to be altruistic, but to make profits.<br /><br />It can happen that some CAMRA activists completely lose sight of the main aims of the organisation. For example, in September 2019 I wrote on my own blog about an article in 'Ale Cry', the magazine of the CAMRA Central Lancs Branch, which was scathing about the tokens given by Wetherspoons to CAMRA members. The writer, who was the mag's editor, went on to say about Wetherspoon's prices: "Real ale on sale at £2.09 a pint is frankly ridiculous".<br /><br />"Why?" I wrote, "Wetherspoons are making a profit, so if they can afford to sell beer at such a price, why shouldn't they?" I wrote to the editor, but he didn't afford me the courtesy of a reply. He has clearly forgotten that the primary focus of CAMRA is on behalf of beer drinkers who benefit from Wetherspoons prices and, if they're CAMRA members, tokens.<br /><br />I suspect that comfortably-salaried, middle class real ale drinkers have no problems with higher prices, but for many drinkers, including some CAMRA members, standard pub prices can be a problem. These people are not represented by CAMRA activists such as the 'Ale Cry' editor.<br /><br />I remain a CAMRA member - in fact I'm the branch press officer - but that doesn't stop me observing and commenting on failings by those are supposed to represent the ordinary drinker, but who manage to get their priorities completely skewed.RedNevhttps://rednev-rearm.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6722137562852954269.post-76780256295558749032021-01-14T00:57:37.836+00:002021-01-14T00:57:37.836+00:00"We must protect the small, independent brewe..."We must protect the small, independent brewers" they cry. Much less concerned about pubs. retiredmartinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15429804437739227082noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6722137562852954269.post-14389097279930098812021-01-11T12:09:59.180+00:002021-01-11T12:09:59.180+00:00Unintended consequences, indeed. No doubt the argu...Unintended consequences, indeed. No doubt the argument about changes in the beer duty incentives to small brewers will rumble on, but you are quite right to call out the childish behaviour of some on the pro-micro side. "Evil Harveys", for crying out loud.Sheffield Hatterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01150338231906559719noreply@blogger.com