Pub regulars and beer drinkers have a new champion in the General Election campaign.

Reading East Lib Dem candidate Gareth Epps is fighting for the rights of beer drinkers in the constituency.

Cllr Epps has made a series of commitments based on a Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) charter.

The CAMRA Beer Drinkers and Pub Goers Charter sets out a series of commitments and Cllr Epps has endorsed them.

He has committed to:

• Promote the interests of Britain’s pubgoers
• Champion well-run community pubs
• Support the rebalancing alcohol taxation to support beer and pubs
• Press for reform of beer tie – forcing licensees to use particular suppliers – to deliver a fair deal for consumers
• Support the role of well-run pubs as solutions to alcohol misuse.

CAMRA has called on prospective Parliamentary candidates to back the campaign.

Cllr Epps last year released a survey of Reading East’s publicans which showed that most earned less than £15,000 a year and many feared they would not be in the trade in five years’ time. 

He has campaigned to reopen Newtown’s Jolly Anglers pub and is working on a Liberal Democrat manifesto for pubs to be launched shortly. 

He wrote the national Liberal Democrat policy which saw the party lead calls for Progressive Beer Duty – a reduction on beer duty for small craft brewers – to be introduced. 

This change has led to the rapid growth of small craft breweries in this area such as Loddon Brewery in Dunsden.

Mike Benner, CAMRA’s chief executive, welcomed Cllr Epps’s support for the charter, saying:  “We are delighted that Gareth Epps has promised to work to promote the interests of beer drinkers and pubgoers.

“Well-run pubs make a huge contribution to community life, each of which injects £80,000 into their local economy every year. 

“Amid growing concern over the loss of more than five pubs a day, it is now more important than ever to support well-run community pubs, to promote local brewers and to protect the interests of consumers.”

After signing up to the CAMRA charter, Cllr Epps said: “I am proud to be speaking up for community pubs, local brewers and consumers.

“Beer is part of Reading’s heritage, and it is great to once again see local small brewers thriving in and around our town.

“Well-run pubs are the bedrock of community life – they are part of the solution to the problem of alcohol misuse and not part of the problem.

“They deserve our support.”

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