Oxford CAMRA:
What is CAMRA?

CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, is an independent, voluntary, consumer organisation which campaigns for real ale, real pubs and consumer rights. Membership is open to all individuals (not to corporate entities such as breweries and pubs).

CAMRA is governed by a voluntary unpaid national executive which is elected by the membership. We have a branch structure which means that all members can join a local CAMRA branch and campaign and socialise locally. There are around 200 branches covering the UK and many of the branches run local beer festivals, publish local newsletters and run social events to pubs and breweries.

Although we are a volunteer-led organisation there is also a small professional staff of twenty five responsible for central campaigning, research, membership services, publishing, marketing and administration. CAMRA is financed through membership subscriptions, sales of products such as books and sweatshirts, and from the proceeds of beer festivals. We are a not-for-profit company, limited by guarantee.

Objectives

CAMRA's mission is to act as champion of the consumer in relation to the UK and European beer and drinks industry. It aims to:

• Maintain consumer rights;
• Promote quality, choice and value for money;
• Support the public house as a focus of community life;
• Campaign for greater appreciation of traditional beers, ciders and perries as part of national heritage and culture;
• Seek improvements in all licensed premises and throughout the brewing industry.

CAMRA also seeks to promote real cider and perry through a sub-organisation called APPLE. Like ale, these are traditional British drinks. Like ale, the traditional product is very different from the 'dead' version.

While CAMRA is a single industry group, it has a very wide area of campaigning interests.

Campaign Successes

CAMRA is the most successful single-issue consumer campaign group in Britain. If CAMRA had not been formed to save real ale then this classic, great-tasting British drink would have become extinct.

In the 1970's we successfully fought the efforts of the big brewers to replace traditional ales with tasteless keg beers.

In the 1980's we lobbied against the lack of choice in Britain's pubs. In 1989 the Government responded with wide reaching reforms called the Beer Orders. The Beer Orders forced the big six brewers to sell or free from the tie over 11,000 as well as introducing the Guest Beer provision.

In the 1990's we actively encouraged and supported real ale resurgence. During the decade CAMRA thwarted efforts by the EU Commission to abolish Britain's Guest Beer provision.

Since 2000 we have succeeded in campaigning for: the extension of mandatory rate relief to public houses; the reform of the outdated licensing laws in England and Wales leading to a more flexible licensing system; the introduction of reduced excise duty for small brewers which means that small brewers are able to compete on a more level playing field with the large brewers.

How does CAMRA campaign?

We produce a hard-hitting newspaper, "What's Brewing", which goes free to our members, the brewery trade and the media. It plays a major role in informing beer drinkers and putting across our views.

The aim is not just to be critical. Through numerous books, guides, awards and presentations, we praise good practice and encourage high standards, whether in brewing, pub cellarmanship, pub design or simply running a good pub. The Great British Beer Festival, the Good Beer Guide, the Champion Beer of Britain awards, and the Pub and Club of the Year awards are all national in scope, but it is important to realise that CAMRA is a decentralised organisation: most of its work is done by volunteers at local level, reinforcing national drives. Our 200 branches run local festivals and awards, and produce their own local guides.

We campaign against brewery take-overs because they lead to brewery closures, loss of established beers, higher prices and reduced choice. Such campaigns are a good example of the way we go about things. Lively and sometimes controversial campaigns are mounted at local level, with backup from headquarters. MPs, councillors, trade unions, licensees and workers might be involved. Tactics we have used include petitions, threatened boycotts, publicity stunts, marches, laying wreaths outside closed breweries and so forth.

Nationally we make submissions to the shareholders, and to regulatory authorities such as the Office of Fair Trading and the Monopoly and Mergers Commission, and, for very large mergers, the European Commission.

Regular local beer festivals play a major role not just as fund raisers but also to keep people informed about CAMRA's work, and the vast range of beers that are still available. This continuous background work has doubtless helped change attitudes towards real ale.

CAMRA also lobbies at European level - the Commissions competition division is always interested in the tied-house system, reform of the UK excise duty system requires EC approval, European legislation affects ingredients, labelling and other such issues.

CAMRA is a founder member of the European Beer Consumers Union (EBCU) which brings together independent voluntary consumer groups from the UK, Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Estonia, France and Switzerland to lobby for drinkers interests at a European level.