New brewery and visitor centre for Belvoir - Nottingham CAMRA

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Young people and alcohol alternative approaches are needed, because the current ones are obviously not working! 6 Nick Tegerdine, Executive Director of apas, argues for a different approach, including reducing the legal age for drinking in some pubs. There are concerns about the relationship between young people and alcohol. Youthful experimentation and ‘rites of passage’ arguments aside, we don’t seem to have understood that it’s not just that young people drink, it’s about what they drink, and where and how. The context in which drinking takes place is more important in shaping behavioural standards and promoting health than the fact that underage drinking occurs. Underage drinking is nothing new and moral crusaders must surely be mindful of that. What has changed is the treatment of underage drinkers as consumers on the one hand, and as villains on the other. It has become fashionable to demonise young people for a series of problems that have developed over the last twenty years, not all of them alcohol-related. However it is regrettable that society seeks to blame someone else, in this case young people, whilst denying or minimising our individual and collective responsibility for the situation. Denial and minimisation are, of course, two of the defining symptoms of addiction! Recently one of the more obvious consequences of young people over indulging in alcohol could be seen in the large pools of vomit on the pavements over Christmas, although it’s important to recognise that many adults directly contributed as well. The concerns are wider than that however, and this is evidenced by the many calls received for help and advice to do with noise and rowdyism in and around licensed premises. There are also calls from parents concerned that their child has been over served and had become unwell. Hospital admissions for alcohol-related illnesses and accidents for all ages are increasing fast. Whilst the person who has overindulged must take responsibility for their behaviour, most people have found their drinking limit by getting it wrong. Nevertheless, the more recent phenomenon of so many young people getting it wrong so much and so often cannot be explained in such simple terms as more people failing to accept their individual responsibility. It is after all the adults who for years have refused to acknowledge the situation that has been created in town and city centres (and I mean created, not allowed to happen). It is adults who own the shares in (and take the profits from) the multinational brewing businesses and pub owning companies. It’s also adults who manage and deal with liquor licences and it’s adults who permit some of them to continue to trade in such a manner that, frankly speaking, they would have found themselves closed down in Dodge City in 1857, let alone any North Midlands town in 2007. Alcohol does not aid physical and psychological development; on that the science is clear. Therefore it’s a good idea to delay the onset of drinking. However, where should the line be drawn in terms of age, or perhaps even in terms of quantity? I believe that we have this badly wrong and that society is in denial of this. The major variable for determining how much people drink, particularly young people, is a cultural one. The context in which drinking behaviour is introduced and in which products are marketed carries far more influence than any number of TV and cinema pieces with a ‘drink responsibly’ message. Despite the various policies in the UK that seek to delay the age of onset of drinking, I would argue that we are in fact encouraging under-age consumption by failing to deal with the situation in the round, by not dealing with the context, and by denying that the drinks industry has changed. The town hall clocks appear to be stuck on 1954. I noted the old Shipstones posters in a Mapperley pub last week. I reflected on the subtle messages in them and how they contrasted with the American-influenced lager adverts of today. In the former the context was relaxed, social, convivial, whilst the latter is to do with individual freedom with no regard for any collective responsibility. That led me, over a second glass, to reflect on how the drinks industry and the government are involved in a tug of war. The prize is the lion’s share of influence over the British drinking culture. Who wins that competition will receive huge bonuses, either in profits or, in the case of the Government, in reduced NHS and crime costs. In the middle of this is a generation of young people, either consumers, victims, or when the going gets tough, ‘the problem’. The way forward requires a fundamental attitudinal shift. The economic drivers that sustain the present context and the belief that drinking is just about getting drunk will be upset and will continue to resist change. The responsible authorities also resist change because they are demonstrably poor at holding up hands and saying ‘we’ve made some mistakes’. www.nottinghamcamra.org February/ March 08 What changes do we want to see? What would make a difference? A lot of research has been done on the effectiveness of the current raft of alcohol control policies. I’ll save my comments on that for another time but here is my vision of how the context can be changed for the better. • Reduce the age of beer drinking to 16 in pubs that can demonstrate responsible retailing and an appropriate context to admit younger people. I would expect that such premises would promote local products, would provide a clean glass every time, and that drinking from the bottle would not be permitted. Food and alcohol-free alternatives at realistic prices would always be available. The Designated Premises Supervisor would always be present • Temporarily increase the age for purchasing all beers, wines, spirits and RTDs to 21 in off licences for a period (probably five years) • Ban all alcohol advertising and sponsorships – no arguments, just do it • Strengthen the progressive beer duty (to support sustainable local industries which, by and large, demonstrate responsibility in what they produce and who they sell it to) • Increase the duty on alcopops and the so-called ‘white ciders’ • Revert to a deposit scheme for all bottles (as in Belgium and Germany for example). This also has environmental benefits and would be popular with younger people • Apply much stricter sanctions for servers and their employers for ‘over serving’ to anyone The problems that we face are getting worse. The one thing that we can’t do is to continue to try and persuade ourselves that the current measures are effective. The responsible authorities may continue to try and do that but that merely illuminates the extent their own self-serving behaviour. We must find a new way. No doubt readers will have their own views about what I have proposed and what readers believe would make a difference. I hope that you will feel able to share those views and I welcome the debate. You can contact me on: 0115 9414747 extension 68053 E-mail: nick@apas.org.uk The worst thing that you can do about a drinking problem is nothing Drinking too much, too often, and for too long and finding it hard to change? Alcohol Problems Advisory Service AVAILABLE • ACCESSIBLE • CONFIDENTIAL 0115 941 4747 or e-mail info@apas.org.uk www.apas.org.uk
Milestone Brewery prides itself on being a quality craft brewer producing fine beers in both cask and bottle. Having previously tried and enjoyed their excellent Christmas Ale (Donner & Blitzed) I decided this time to sample Lion’s Pride a session beer at 3.8% ABV. The trick with RAIB’s is to pour carefully, to ensure that the sediment stays in the bottle, and to leave the beer to stand for a few minutes to allow any excess carbonation to disperse. The end result was a traditional copper coloured beer with a modest head. Immediately I was aware of a pleasant floral hoppy aroma combined with a hint of malt in the background. The beer is well balanced and whilst a genuine bitter ale there is enough ‘sweetness’ to make it quite morerish. The beer concludes with a dry and bitter aftertaste and the overall impression was that of a good traditional English bitter. In many ways this is quite unusual, as most RAIB’s tend to be at the higher end of the ABV scale but in Lion’s Pride Milestone have produced a surprisingly robust session beer. Milestone Brewery can be found in Cromwell, Newark NG23 6JE and started brewing in 2005. They produce a range of interesting beers including Raspberry Wheat 5.6% (a continental style fruit beer); Black Pearl Stout 4.3% (authentic Irish Stout) and an Imperial Pale Ale at 4.8% ABV. Milestone beers can be purchased from the brewery and Waitrose Stores in Newark, Lincoln, Blaby, Evington (Leicester); The Friendly Farmer, Farm More Bottled Beer More Real Ale in a Bottle (RAIB - 68) Shop Newark; Doddington Hall Farm Shop Doddington Nr Lincoln; Muskham Village Stores North Muskham and Red Zebra in Derby. For more information visit Milestone’s web site www.milestonebrewery.com or visit their shop at the brewery that is open 9-5 Mon to Friday (01636 822255). Specialist shops like Red Zebra in Derby’s Market Hall always stock a fine range of beers so if you are looking for something special they are well worth visiting. (Open Monday – Saturday 9.00 – 5.00 (01332) 242403. Website www.redzebradrinks.com Award winning local beers fortified with flavour www.castlerockbrewery.co.uk www.nottinghamcamra.org February/ March 08 7
Page 1 and 2: Issue 84 February/ March 08 FREE Pl
Page 3 and 4: Phil Troop is a firm believer in re
Page 5: Erewash Valley news Firstly, may I
Page 9 and 10: Chairman stands down after 13 years
Page 11 and 12: Real ales and ciders galore Graham
Page 13 and 14: Win two bottles of real ale by answ
Page 15 and 16: Stout and Porter Stroll Nottingham
Page 17: Stout and Porter Stroll How to get
Page 20 and 21: In Praise of PUBlic Transport No. 5
Page 22 and 23: Ray’s Round A lot has been happen
Page 24 and 25: LocAle A New Year toast with a diff
Page 26: Across the Pond Andrew Ludlow takes
Page 29 and 30: Close to the Bourse, Falststaff, at
Page 31 and 32: Beer Festivals Jan 31 - Feb 02 (Thu

New brewery and visitor centre for Belvoir - Nottingham CAMRA

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