There are many issues that you need to consider when you become a PPC. Local issues and concerns become increasingly important and proposing a solution for the problems faced by the electorate is vital. There are some issues, however, that cross from local issues to the national agenda and this is one of them. I seek to represent Burton Upon Trent, the home of British Brewing. The industry is core to our town, our economy and our culture. However, people are still concerned about the impact of excessive drinking in both my towns and all my villages across East Staffordshire.
On Thursday the Home Office published crime figures showing a sharp fall in reported crime last year. According to the British Crime Survey you are less likely to be a victim of crime then at any time since records began in 1981. The problem is that people simply don’t believe either the statistics or the government. The same survey also states that, in spite of the figures, 65 per cent of the population believes that rates have gone up nationally.
On the doorstep this issue is raised time and time again and the more vulnerable groups of the community are increasingly scared. Their concerns are perpetuated by the media on a daily basis and focus on binge drinking and antisocial behaviour on our streets.
Whatever the reality about crime, the perception is that the elderly and vulnerable are more at risk then ever before. The lad and ladette culture still prevails and going out at the weekend is no longer a social event but rather a test of alcoholic consumption. On this basis we need to explore what policy and practical measures we as the party of fairness and social cohesion should be taking to not only change the perception but also to improve the reality.
If we were going to create a new environment to encourage responsible and safe drinking, what would we aspire to create?
• A clean, safe and friendly building
• A place where you were not able to buy a drink if you were already drunk
• A business that was legally restricted from selling alcohol to children
• A building which is in the heart of the community
Thankfully there are already thousands of these places across the country where you can drink in comfort and safety and, to quote from the American sitcom Cheers, a place where everyone really does know your name and just as importantly the age of your children… Indeed, the answer must be the promotion of an historic and very British institution – the community pub! I know that this may be viewed as a counterintuitive step but we should be asking ourselves a very simple question. At a time when we are rightly worried about underage drinking and cheap alcohol, should we be encouraging a solution via the British supermarkets which sell lager at less than 50p per pint or should we be working to promote the social experience with alcohol consumption as a byproduct?
We obviously need to be practical and government alone cannot change the current cultural environment. This week is British Beer Week. As a party I think that it is in our best interests to work with industry to find ways to both promote the British community pub and British brewing. One in five community pubs has closed in the last five years. We need to explore creative solutions to ensure a more level playing field between pubs and supermarkets – one of which could be social reference pricing. First and foremost, we need to stand up and celebrate British beer. This weekend I plan to do exactly that at my local in Tutbury, raising a pint or two of my locally produced beer to celebrate the fact that we saved one of our community post offices!
This isn’t just about promoting an industry, it’s about saving our heritage and promoting our communities – but that’s another article.