Minimum Booze Pricing

[tomjackson]

There's still lots of decent 'real' pubs around.  Generally the ones that offer a decent selection of real ales and decent food.  It's a pity so many are going but most of the really good ones should remain.
But what was the norm, will become the niche. 
I think part of the blame is because the brewery's are seeing how much money wanky bars make, so they close the low profit local local pubs and open new bars that attract the crowd with the $$$

I think the smoking ban is a bit of a smokescreen, an excuse for brewery's to close down pubs that have been there years that would otherwise cause outcry.... 'but we have to close it, the smoking ban has made everybody drink wine at home'...

In truth, lots of the older heavy drinkers now go to Wetherspoons where they can get the cheapest pints, stay away from the wife and soak up some of that amazing atmosphere.  Honestly, just go to a big Wetherspoones, the amount of old boys in there at the weekend could fill 10 ordinary pubs.

[JDC]

Flicked through the thread but is it me or do these "debates" turn into an episode of loose women?

[Philly Q]

Dave, though I mostly agree with you and feel you shouldn't be forced to put up with the unpleasant aspects of smoke in a public building...

That statement about pubs concurs with my point...

"I don't go into gay bath houses because I don't like being propositioned"

OK... that's cool.

"lets ban gayness in bath houses"

Great... so you wanna go to a bath house?

"I don't like bath houses but it's good that I can now go if I ever want to without being propositioned"

Ehh?  PDT_041 PDT_038

well, i sorta see your point, but at the same time it's not beyond the realms of possibility that i might go into one. and i certainly went into them a fair bit when i was younger and was pissed off at the stink all the time.

Eh?  Still talking about bath houses?  :?

[WezV]

I think part of the blame is because the brewery's are seeing how much money wanky bars make, so they close the low profit local local pubs and open new bars that attract the crowd with the $$$

that is not the breweries - at least not most of them.

other than Greene King, Sam Smiths and  Marstons most Uk brewers are not responsible for the outlets, and those guys are not known for their trendy wine bars ;)

The big uk brewers (molson coors, Heinekin UK, Carlsberg Uk, AB Inbev - yes all brought out by foreign companies) are just brewers/suppliers/wholesalers. 

most pubs in the UK not tied to a big chain (punch, spirit, weatherspoons, barracuda etc etc) are free from any ties with a brewery - which is why you tend to see much more choice/variety from different brewers on bars nowadays

your comments could apply to a company like punch though, they have all kinds of pubs in their portfolio and would have the power to do as you suggest.

[nfe]

*most brand name beers already cost more than 40p a unit

I'm not sure what's being implied here, but this does not mean they wont increase in price with minimum pricing. I think they're increase quite sharply to maintain the perception of a difference in quality between the value and premium brands.

[WezV]

Just a fact - we have a new government policy on minimum pricing which currently wouldnt change the price on most brand name beers.

i think you may be right about brewers charging more for the perception of quality - but that already happens anyway.  hence the price difference between brands like peroni and coors light, carling and corona etc...

 but its a very competitive market at the moment and prices are dictated more by the large retailers than they are by the brewers.  it will be interesting to see if minimum pricing changes that and who gets any extra profit.

[nfe]

Yeah, I know what you're saying. Just it's a bit of a red herring that currently most brand drinks are above the pricing anyway, as it would still change them, because when Tesco's Bierre Speciale is as expensive as Carling, they still want to shift the Bierre Speciale, so the Carling goes up by the same distance. I think it'd be retailers rather than breweries pushing it up.

Will probably be far more notable on spirits than beer, though.

[Afghan Dave]

Dave, though I mostly agree with you and feel you shouldn't be forced to put up with the unpleasant aspects of smoke in a public building...

That statement about pubs concurs with my point...

"I don't go into gay bath houses because I don't like being propositioned"

OK... that's cool.

"lets ban gayness in bath houses"

Great... so you wanna go to a bath house?

"I don't like bath houses but it's good that I can now go if I ever want to without being propositioned"

Ehh?  PDT_041 PDT_038

well, i sorta see your point, but at the same time it's not beyond the realms of possibility that i might go into one. and i certainly went into them a fair bit when i was younger and was pissed off at the stink all the time.

Eh?  Still talking about bath houses?  :?

I noticed that but didn't like to mention...  :o I s'pose you learn something new about people everyday.  :lol: :lol:

[FELINEGUITARS]

Minimum price per unit doesn't totally explain why a pint of watered down beer at a gig costs £4.25

[dave_mc]

Flicked through the thread but is it me or do these "debates" turn into an episode of loose women?

you tell me, i've never watched loose women :lol:

Eh?  Still talking about bath houses?  :?

ahahahahahahahahaha i totally missed that

i meant pubs, obviously :lol:

I noticed that but didn't like to mention...  :o I s'pose you learn something new about people everyday.  :lol: :lol:

:oops: :lol:

[Roobubba]

Minimum price per unit doesn't totally explain why a pint of watered down beer at a gig costs £4.25

It's quite a lot of effort to go about watering down the beer. Someone's got to pay for all those man hours!

[JDC]

Flicked through the thread but is it me or do these "debates" turn into an episode of loose women?

you tell me, i've never watched loose women :lol:

Watched 5 minutes while flicking, one presenter had an emotional out burst to something she has no direct control over.

Making a fuss over variables you cannot control is just mental masturbation.

[Afghan Dave]

Making a fuss over variables you cannot control is just mental masturbation.

Do you personally have the right to vote in the UK? (if not ignore the following statement)

I'm not usually blunt and will happily explain my point if required but ...

You sir, have just talked absolute bullsh1t...

[Toe-Knee]

Making a fuss over variables you cannot control is just mental masturbation.

Do you personally have the right to vote in the UK? (if not ignore the following statement)

I'm not usually blunt and will happily explain my point if required but ...

You sir, have just talked absolute bullsh1t...

Hmm i kinda agree with him.

Whats the point in worrying about something that you don't have any control over?

Saying that though people still worry even though worrying wont change a thing

[shobet]

You're all talkin shitee.