After Fullers & Greene King: what is to be done?
Following Fullers sale of its brewing operations (not pubs) to Asahi, another large ex-regional brewer, Greene King has announced its sale to a Hong Kong based property company. Its fair to say they are not here for the beer.
A good analysis, as would be expected, is here from Roger Protz
https://protzonbeer.co.uk/comments/2019/08/20/greene-king-another-one-bites-the-dust
Protz has suggested on social media a summit of CAMRA, SIBA and others to determine proposals to put to Government once there is one that is actually concerned with day to day Government.
But what should be proposed? As ever it is much easier to oppose than argue for a positive way forward.
One idea might be to return to the model of the State-owned brewery in Carlisle that was started during World War One and lasted until the 1970s. Its aim was to set a benchmark for good beer and pubs and of course initially to stop munitions workers from drinking too much.
I have no issue with reasserting that idea but in a world where global beer and capital operate it cant be the entire answer.
Another is to strengthen legislation (which currently operates in England) to allow community bids a first crack at buying a pub under threat of closure. That would make bids like that for Greene King less attractive.
More is still required. Perhaps its time to designate a range of regional brewers as producing something unique to the UK and put strict regulations around anyone trying to interfere with it. Much for example as the EU has done (remember them) with Stilton cheese.
Finally, not State ownership but an alternative, perhaps the Government could take a golden share in some leading breweries meaning they could not be sold without a process where the sense of doing so was reviewed.
Of course that depends on the Government….
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