Crocodile tears for community pubs
Monday, November 7, 2011 at 9:13 The most popular early day motion in the current parliament is EDM 210 which is dedicated to 'Community public houses'.
To date 275 MPs have signed the EDM which "recognises the social, economic and cultural importance of well-run community pubs" and "urges the Government to implement a package of policies which will help secure the future of viable and well-run community pubs".
The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) was quick to claim credit. Commenting in December 2010, the group's public affairs team said:
"This is a great achievement, considering that there are almost 1200 EDMs in total! The jump in signatures came as a direct result of the actions of CAMRA members in specific constituencies, who used the CAMRA campaign site to contact their MPs and ask them to sign up.
"We are delighted that EDM 210 has achieved the highest number of signatures. We would like to thank all members who have contacted their MP and asked them to sign, and urge members who haven't yet asked to do so as soon as possible! We hope the overwhelming parliamentary support will lead to vital reforms which will benefit well-run community pubs."
Needless to say these "vital reforms" don't include an amendment to the smoking ban, despite the clear evidence linking the closure of thousands of pubs to the introduction of the ban.
Truth is, CAMRA has never shown the slightest interest in fighting or amending the ban or even engaging with those who support separate smoking rooms. We invited both the director and the chairman to the Save Our Pubs & Clubs reception at the House of Commons in June and neither bothered even to reply, which says it all really.
But what really struck me about EDM 210 was the fact that two of the five sponsors include Sir Peter Bottomley (Conservative) and Bob Russell (Lib Dem) who are also members of the ASH-run All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Smoking and Health.
Also noticeable is the number of MPs who support both the smoking ban and "community public houses".
Don't these numpties understand that the fate of the latter may be connected to the former and that the only way to "secure the future of viable and well-run community pubs" may be to give landlords the option of a separate smoking room like this?
Doh!
Reader Comments (10)
Ah, The Wen! The name cannot be spoken. Have these clowns been on some drug that sends them into fits if 'smoking' is ever mentioned? I can't think of any other reason. I know they're full of self delusion but that can't explain this phobia.
Mike Benner the CEO of CAMRA has changed his tune, this was him speaking in 2004 calling for separate smoking rooms.
"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.
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.
Mike Benner, Chief Executive of CAMRA, raised concerns about the proposals:
""It is the small community local which is likely to bear the brunt of these proposals should they become law. We would like the Government to carry out a full impact assessment on community pubs and ensure that support is in place to prevent closures of this essential community amenity because of the smoke issue. In many pubs there is a simple solution, where there are two or more entirely separate rooms, smoking could be allowed in one, while other rooms, where food is served could be made smoke-free."
http://www.camra.org.uk/page.aspx?o=180806
How weird - my MP wouldn't sign Brian Binley's EDM because he said he didn't believe they were effective - and yet here he is listed as one of those who have signed Camra's EDM which doesn't even recognise the root of problem.
Ah well, I used to like pubs but I guess we'll all learn to live without them as one by one they continue to go down the pan as smokers stay home with their tolerant non-smoker friends.
I went to my first CAMRA run event a couple of weeks ago. Bearing in mind some of the things I've read about CAMRA & the smoking ban on blogs like yours I did try and inject questioning on the subject into some of the conversations I had with the members.
To be honest with you not a single one of them cared about it. Membership of CAMRA was all about getting pissed every few weeks at the next ale festival. So a bit like a Conservative Club then...
Last week Camra were told to leave pub very close to to were I live, in some area's of the pub industry there are not very popular.
It appears that CAMRA is not prepared to admit to or help tackle the main cause of pub closures.
I can only conclude that CAMRA does not care about pubs.
"Also noticeable is the number of MPs who support both the smoking ban and "community public houses"....................."
"Well, Jonathan/David/Jeremy, whilst I (and my colleagues) naturally support the wholesome idea of 'the community public house', we most emphatically do NOT support the idea of mass-murder by cigarette smoke..................(laughter, applause, grunts of 'hear, hear' from audience). Now if I may be serious for a moment...................................."
Etc, etc, etc.
Martin v, if you had separate smoking rooms or well-ventilated smoking area's in pubs and clubs you wouldn't have to worry about "mass-murder by cigarette smoke". Unfortunately you know very little about the licencing industry, and what the pub and club owners and licensee's are going through at the moment and the smoking ban is one of the main problems, especially now as we are heading in to winter time.
Might any MP like to consider single policies that are sure to destroy specific businesses and then think back to the single policy they introduced that discouraged the majority of customers from visiting Britain's major community centres.
Crocodile tears indeed!
Did CAMRA develop/create/run pubs and do they appreciate/ignore the real role of pubs? Are they simply a jumped up latter-day beer drinking intelligentsia?
Camaraderie not beer makes pubs.
Gary -
Is is possible you have mis-read my post (and my intentions) ?
I certainly know something of the effect of the Ban - as a pub and real ale enthusiast: I NEVER visit a pub now (on principle), except on occasion in the summer, for one thing.
And I also note with sadness the closure of at least SEVEN pubs in and around a high street near me over the past couple of years.
I feel desperately sorry for licensees - but things might have been different if the industry collectively (including CAMRA) had shown a little more principle, backbone, and balls.
Its supine compliance with an insufferable government diktat has now borne its inevitable fruit.
So - no more tears, please, from anti-smoking drinkers, 'tolerant' non-smokers who stood idly by, industry spokesmen who opposed the simple expedient of choice from the start, and career-obsessed MPs (initially 'sympathetic' or not) who now think they may-have-been-too-hasty.
I'm thoroughly sick of ALL of them !
Too late to cry now, I'm afraid.