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| Beer activists are calling on the government to scrap tax on brews made with just 2.8% alcohol. But would drinkers sup a weaker pint for the sake of 60p? | Beer activists are calling on the government to scrap tax on brews made with just 2.8% alcohol. But would drinkers sup a weaker pint for the sake of 60p? |
| It has the same rich brown body and frothy head as most of the hundreds of beers on tap at the Great British Beer Festival. | It has the same rich brown body and frothy head as most of the hundreds of beers on tap at the Great British Beer Festival. |
| Swilling back a mouthful may well prompt the same satisfying smack of the lips and hoppy aftertaste. | Swilling back a mouthful may well prompt the same satisfying smack of the lips and hoppy aftertaste. |
| But drinking four or five of Welton's Pride 'n' Joy will not have quite the same inebriating effect as Oakham brewery's formidable Attilla, at 7.5% alcohol, or even Thwaites' Wainwright, at a fairly standard 4.1%. | But drinking four or five of Welton's Pride 'n' Joy will not have quite the same inebriating effect as Oakham brewery's formidable Attilla, at 7.5% alcohol, or even Thwaites' Wainwright, at a fairly standard 4.1%. |
| Sussex-brewed Pride 'n' Joy is being showcased by the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) at the festival, in London's Earl's Court in a bid to prove that weaker beer can be tasty. | Sussex-brewed Pride 'n' Joy is being showcased by the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) at the festival, in London's Earl's Court in a bid to prove that weaker beer can be tasty. |
| And, at 2.8% alcohol, it is a little over half the strength of many premium beers. | And, at 2.8% alcohol, it is a little over half the strength of many premium beers. |
| Lower strength beers have rated highly among the hundreds at the festival | Lower strength beers have rated highly among the hundreds at the festival |
| With British palates grown accustomed to high-strength continental lagers, many brewers also upped their ale's alcohol content as people shunned traditional milds and weaker "boys bitters". | |
| It left mid-strength beers difficult to come by, with a resultant hangover for the government in the form of drink-fuelled violence and rising rates of alcohol-related illness. | It left mid-strength beers difficult to come by, with a resultant hangover for the government in the form of drink-fuelled violence and rising rates of alcohol-related illness. |
| However, Camra says one remedy may be easily at hand, with EU rules allowing member states to apply reduced excise rates to beers not exceeding 2.8%. | However, Camra says one remedy may be easily at hand, with EU rules allowing member states to apply reduced excise rates to beers not exceeding 2.8%. |
| It claims completely scrapping tax on these lower alcohol brews would slash the price of a pint by up to 60p, although the Treasury does not recognise this figure. | It claims completely scrapping tax on these lower alcohol brews would slash the price of a pint by up to 60p, although the Treasury does not recognise this figure. |
| In a survey, 55% of respondents told Camra they would try a more timid tipple. | In a survey, 55% of respondents told Camra they would try a more timid tipple. |
| 'People's pint' | 'People's pint' |
| Its chief executive, Mike Benner, says that with a recession hitting people's pockets and pubs closing "at a rate of seven a day", it is the perfect time to introduce a duty-free "People's Pint". | Its chief executive, Mike Benner, says that with a recession hitting people's pockets and pubs closing "at a rate of seven a day", it is the perfect time to introduce a duty-free "People's Pint". |
| "This is an opportunity to make it easier for people to drink responsibly whilst also supporting the tens of thousands of jobs under threat as a result of falling beer sales and pub closures," he says. | "This is an opportunity to make it easier for people to drink responsibly whilst also supporting the tens of thousands of jobs under threat as a result of falling beer sales and pub closures," he says. |
| "It's quite common in pubs to hear people trying to control consumption by asking for shandy. This would give people the option of a tasty bitter instead." | "It's quite common in pubs to hear people trying to control consumption by asking for shandy. This would give people the option of a tasty bitter instead." |
| Mr Benner will be pressing Chancellor Alistair Darling to include the measure in November's pre-Budget report and the Treasury says it will engage with the drinks industry on alcohol duty. | Mr Benner will be pressing Chancellor Alistair Darling to include the measure in November's pre-Budget report and the Treasury says it will engage with the drinks industry on alcohol duty. |
| In the past a lot of brewers have made poor quality lower strength beers that taste like dishwater Ray Welton, independent brewer | In the past a lot of brewers have made poor quality lower strength beers that taste like dishwater Ray Welton, independent brewer |
| Of course, it's not necessarily a solution that would keep all sides happy. | Of course, it's not necessarily a solution that would keep all sides happy. |
| "Alcohol duties are an important contributor to the public finances," a government spokesman cautions. | "Alcohol duties are an important contributor to the public finances," a government spokesman cautions. |
| Camra's case has the backing of at least one influential voice which warns about Britain's rising alcohol consumption - Alcohol Concern | Camra's case has the backing of at least one influential voice which warns about Britain's rising alcohol consumption - Alcohol Concern |
| "Having more lower strength drinks on the market allows people to enjoy a night out while making it easier to stay within safe drinking guidelines," says the charity's chief executive, Don Shenker. | "Having more lower strength drinks on the market allows people to enjoy a night out while making it easier to stay within safe drinking guidelines," says the charity's chief executive, Don Shenker. |
| But this is not the first time brewers have tried sipping from a more moderate chalice. Concerns over binge drinking have led the alcohol industry to promote responsible intake. | But this is not the first time brewers have tried sipping from a more moderate chalice. Concerns over binge drinking have led the alcohol industry to promote responsible intake. |
| Brewers of premium strength beers, such as Beck's and Stella Artois, are now touting 4% varieties. And Carling could justifiably claim to be ahead of Camra's call, having launched its C2 brand - at 2% - in 2006. Guinness too has been trialling its 2.8% "Mid-Strength" in Ireland. | Brewers of premium strength beers, such as Beck's and Stella Artois, are now touting 4% varieties. And Carling could justifiably claim to be ahead of Camra's call, having launched its C2 brand - at 2% - in 2006. Guinness too has been trialling its 2.8% "Mid-Strength" in Ireland. |
| But if they were hoping for a mass conversion, they so far have been disappointed, says industry analyst Graham Page. | But if they were hoping for a mass conversion, they so far have been disappointed, says industry analyst Graham Page. |
| These tamer brews have "not done anything spectacular," says Mr Page, of market research company Nielsen. | These tamer brews have "not done anything spectacular," says Mr Page, of market research company Nielsen. |
| 'Thinner flavour' | 'Thinner flavour' |
| "If you're driving or have work to do after lunch then it works but part of the difficulty for brands of 2 to 3% is that, comparatively, the flavour characteristics are thinner." | "If you're driving or have work to do after lunch then it works but part of the difficulty for brands of 2 to 3% is that, comparatively, the flavour characteristics are thinner." |
| "I've been in the industry 40 years and no-one has found a solution to the low or mid-strength alcohol opportunity." | "I've been in the industry 40 years and no-one has found a solution to the low or mid-strength alcohol opportunity." |
| Many micro-breweries already enjoy significant tax breaks and so may not, in reality, be able to cut as much as 60p from a pint, he adds. | Many micro-breweries already enjoy significant tax breaks and so may not, in reality, be able to cut as much as 60p from a pint, he adds. |
| Even if some can - and the public are ready to respond to price incentives - brewer Ray Welton admits mid-strength beer has always been "very difficult to sell". | Even if some can - and the public are ready to respond to price incentives - brewer Ray Welton admits mid-strength beer has always been "very difficult to sell". |
| It was frustration at "poor quality, lower strength beers that tasted like dishwater" that prompted him to produce Pride 'n' Joy, two years after setting up his Horsham-based operation in 1995. | It was frustration at "poor quality, lower strength beers that tasted like dishwater" that prompted him to produce Pride 'n' Joy, two years after setting up his Horsham-based operation in 1995. |
| Finding lower strength beer has become difficult | Finding lower strength beer has become difficult |
| Mr Welton believes reducing duty would encourage more brewers to follow suit - though he admits it is "the hardest beer to brew". | Mr Welton believes reducing duty would encourage more brewers to follow suit - though he admits it is "the hardest beer to brew". |
| Using less sugar and malt to reduce the alcohol content also means using fewer hops to balance the taste - but it's these ingredients that give beer its flavour. | Using less sugar and malt to reduce the alcohol content also means using fewer hops to balance the taste - but it's these ingredients that give beer its flavour. |
| The end product also gives publicans a problem, in that a lower alcohol content reduces a beer's lifespan. | The end product also gives publicans a problem, in that a lower alcohol content reduces a beer's lifespan. |
| Even then, a landlord must work hard to convince his regulars to give it a go. | Even then, a landlord must work hard to convince his regulars to give it a go. |
| Just ask Simon Johnson, who runs the White Horse in Maplehurst, Sussex. | Just ask Simon Johnson, who runs the White Horse in Maplehurst, Sussex. |
| "I might have six beers on and they'll look at the low alcohol one and say 'it looks a bit thin'," he says. "I have to give them a sample and once they taste it, they'll buy it." | "I might have six beers on and they'll look at the low alcohol one and say 'it looks a bit thin'," he says. "I have to give them a sample and once they taste it, they'll buy it." |
| Ratings on the festival's website seem to bear out this view, with visitors awarding four out of five to Belhaven 60/-, an East Lothian light beer at 2.9%, and several 3.6% products such as Wells Eagle IPA and Hobson's Twisted Spire. | Ratings on the festival's website seem to bear out this view, with visitors awarding four out of five to Belhaven 60/-, an East Lothian light beer at 2.9%, and several 3.6% products such as Wells Eagle IPA and Hobson's Twisted Spire. |
| So how would it go down with punters at the Earl's Court festival? Would they too be prepared to stomach a lower alcohol pint? | So how would it go down with punters at the Earl's Court festival? Would they too be prepared to stomach a lower alcohol pint? |
| Tom Cosens , 35, of Reigate in Surrey, thought Pride 'n' Joy "quite refreshing". | Tom Cosens , 35, of Reigate in Surrey, thought Pride 'n' Joy "quite refreshing". |
| "I wouldn't immediately think that's a weak bitter. It's still quite flavoursome and if it was 60p cheaper I would definitely drink it." | "I wouldn't immediately think that's a weak bitter. It's still quite flavoursome and if it was 60p cheaper I would definitely drink it." |
| Richard Sanders, 59, from Loughborough, Leicestershire, agreed. | Richard Sanders, 59, from Loughborough, Leicestershire, agreed. |
| "For a low gravity beer, it has quite a lot of character. On a hot summer's day it would be lovely." | "For a low gravity beer, it has quite a lot of character. On a hot summer's day it would be lovely." |
| So, brewing good low alcohol beers seems possible. | So, brewing good low alcohol beers seems possible. |
| Whether the market is large enough to encourage mass production - and prompt a change in the nation's drinking habits - remains to be seen. | Whether the market is large enough to encourage mass production - and prompt a change in the nation's drinking habits - remains to be seen. |
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