Breathalysing Customers Could Fuel Alcohol Consumption

Here’s a story; in the late 19th century the worthy masters of ‘X’ town decided that the rat population was intolerable, and so they invented an incentive scheme to get rid of them. The scheme was simple; they said to the populous: “Kill a rat and bring in its tail to prove its demise, and we will pay you a farthing”. Worked brilliantly, until the law of unintended consequence kicked in and the wise guys started breeding rats because they were easier to catch! Result – the rat population grew. In other words, beware the ‘Law of unintended consequence’!

Now, I am all for the responsible retailing of alcohol (and support the 99% of operators who thus do), and all for the responsible consumption of alcohol (and the 99% of drinkers who do) but have doubts as to the introduction of breathalysing of customers to ensure they are sober – just to ENTER a licensed outlet. This is a growing initiative for night-time venues, driven by various police forces across the UK (Voluntary at present; mandatory one day?).

Here’s how one effect of unintended consequence might happen:-
Night clubs will be required to only admit ‘sober’ customers who pass a breathalyser test (they could one day be prosecuted if non-sober customers are allowed in) and so they will offer cut price drinks to stop pre-loading and thereby attract customers in at an earlier time. This will encourage Supermarkets to drive their prices even lower to protect their sales and thereby ensure pre-loading continues – thus a ‘price war’ ensues. Result; the price of alcohol gets even lower and so more will be consumed, and more consumption will bring more drunkenness. Then there could be a movement to breathalyse customers when they leave night-clubs (God forbid if this ever gets to pubs!). Then perhaps (who knows) a test for supermarkets before anyone can purchase alcohol (not sure if people will be breathalysed at home once they have consumed it, probably not, but once again who knows).

I understand (and sympathise) with the dilemma police have with drunken idiots, also the A&E departments who have to deal with them. BUT demonising alcohol is (in my view) not the answer. The answer lies more in education, peer pressure, more severe penalties for the drunken, penalties for those who sell to drunken people, social exclusion for drunks, cessation of ‘celebrities’ glorying in drunken behaviour, cessation of the redtops glorying in the celebs thus doing. Acceptance that the responsible consumption of alcohol is a positive thing, and an understanding that making alcohol more and more demonised will only enhance its attraction (remember America in the twenties).

Our current attitude to alcohol certainly requires a cultural change. But cultural change invariably comes from peer pressure. For example; 20 years ago a smoker would automatically light up in a friends house, 10 years later they would ask for permission to do so, 5 years later they would not ask, now they ask for forgiveness and go outside in the rain. By the way, it is perfectly legal to smoke in a friends house but it is not socially acceptable. THAT is cultural change!


Martin Read CMBII
Managing Director of Inn-Dispensable Personal Licence Courses

More Spent on Drugs & Prostitution than Beer & WIne, Say Government Statistics

Whilst pubs are closing left right and centre, the drug and prostitution sectors appear to be in good health - and growing dramatically!

The Office of National Statistics have reported that consumers in the UK spend more on illegal drugs and prostitution than on beer and wine. Well, not in our village (to the best of my knowledge).

They say that £12.3 billion was spent on drugs and prostitution - but only £11 billion on Beer and Wine. So HMG gather billions in tax and duty from B & W but naff all from D &P (both D & P being recorded as miscellaneous goods and services, presumably!!)

I wonder if HMG are going to introduce as many laws for D & P as they have for B & W, and then ensure that the tax revenue grows from such activities? I doubt it, myself. Much easier to go on persecuting the poor old publican!

We run courses on Drug Awareness and preventing same, but not got into a course on prostitution yet. However, good to see there are some growth industries in the UK!

Has the world gone mad?


Martin Read CMBII
Managing Director of Inn-Dispensable Personal Licence Training

Windsor Nightclub Takes Alcohol Retailing to a New Low

Some bright spark (without authority, apparently) thought it a great idea to tweet the message below with picture to ‘market and sell’ the delights of spending a night in this club, which is a stones throw for HM’s Berkshire residency (not sure if she is a regular client, possibly not. Andrew might be though).

“Want to end up like her? We're giving away a free booth to groups of girls this Friday. Direct message us”. The image shows a seemingly comatose woman wearing just thong underwear and sprawled out on her front surrounded by drink bottles.

So all of the tremendous work the industry has done to promote ‘responsibly retailing of alcohol’ seems to be lost on these individuals - both the person who tweeted and the lady (hic) in the photo.

The management of the premises have apologised unreservedly and no doubt the culprit is getting an enormous boll*cking! Not sure if the lady has been swooped up by some lucky groom!

Talk about giving the anti-alcohol brigade ammunition!


Martin Read CMBII
Managing Director of Inn-Dispensable Personal Licence Courses

Cheap Food & Drink in Pubs on September 24th!

The mighty campaign to see VAT on food and drink reduced in pubs from 20% to 5% drives forward.

Buy a pint and a pie in a pub and pay an extra 20% - compared to purchasing the same in a supermarket. No equality there!

So the argument is simple; reduce VAT in pubs, create more sales, more employment, and therefore more income to the treasury. All of this whilst removing the tax inequality twixt pubs and supermarkets.

September 24th will see thousands of pubs reduce their prices by 7.5% (which has the same impact if VAT was reduced to 5%).

Tim Martin Chairman of JD Wetherspoon said that his 900 pubs will participate and they intend to make September 24th the busiest day of the year. Well done to him, say I!

Many other pub companies and individual operators will also support the day, so get down your pub on the 24th!

Martin Read CMBII
Managing Director of www.inn-dispensable.com Personal Licence Courses

‘Appy Hours - Now With Alcohol Consumption Tracking?

Is it just me or is the world going mad?

I am all for the responsible retailing and consumption of alcohol. I am also all for the survival of the British Pub and for the great enjoyment 99% of drinkers get from a visit to the pub. I am also all for downing a pint or two responsibly (or whatever your medicine is) and for personal reliability. BUT am I alone?

Drinkaware (a worthy organisation) have now launched, would you believe, an APP which enables you to track your alcohol consumption, calculate units and calories and set goals to help you moderate your drinking. So when you are enjoying a drink with your friends and they ask "what are you having?" you can check your APP before you reply.

This technological wonder apparently has a plethora of indispensable features, including:

• Tracking the units and calories in your drinks
• An extensive database of alcohol brands
• Teaching you more about the health benefits of cutting down
• Allowing you to feel supported with regular and personalised feedback
• Pinpointing locations where you need extra help; from your local to your own home
• Setting goals tailored to your existing drinking habits
• Setting rewards for achieving your goals
• Displaying your progress in terms of units or calories drunk
• Recording and reviewing your drinking over time - How you’re doing compared to last week, or last month?

AS Far as I’m concerned I have my own APP, it’s called self control, and if that doesn’t work I have another fall back APP when I’m drinking in my local, its called The Landlord; who says “you’ve had enough Readie, go home”. And if the Landlord doesn’t spot it I have another APP, it’s called my mates who tell me I’m talking rubbish, and then my final APP - myself!! so  one way or another; I go home!

31 Pubs closing each week, health warnings on all alcohol packaging, fines for buying your mate a pint if he/she appears intoxicated, now an APP to see if you can have another half of Bitter.

World gone mad for 99% of drinkers or perhaps it is just me?


Martin Read CMBII
Managing Director of www.inn-dispensable.com Personal Licence Courses

A Half Pint Glass Which Looks Like A Full Pint?!

Apparently there are fellas (might also be some gals) out there who cannot drink "pints" any more (or at least cannot keep up with their mates who still can!). They however believe that to maintain their reputation that they are not gibbers but real "drinking sorts", drinking "halves" is not an option (well not openly and proudly).

So there is now a new glass on the market that is a pint size in height but it is cut down the middle so that it only holds a half pint. But, if you hold it correctly, with the "front round side" facing your mates, it looks like a full pint (are you still with me?).

Not sure what happens when your mates ask "what you are having?". Do you say "pint please" - to keep up the illusion that you are still one of the lads (or lasses). If so, then presumably the bar staff on being presented with said glass, are either in on the act or they spill the other half a pint on the floor.

This idea could also work well for slimmers. "Full English please" - then cut the sausages in half, along their length? Topside up would still look like a full plate of food!

I wish the manufacturers well, but hope they haven’t produced too many! Happy days.


Martin Read CMBII
Managing Director of Inn-Dispensable Personal Licence Courses

Gazza To Open A Pub Chain?

That goal he scored all of those years ago, with an overhead flick and a sensational finish and then a celebration mimicking guzzling alcohol was sensational. “The Dentists Chair” gained a whole new meaning! Though I’m not so sure it’s such a sensational an idea for Gazza to now think of getting into the Pub business!

Apparently Mr Gascgoigne wants to franchise his “Gazza” protected name and open a number of bars called “GAZZA BARS” with franchisees running them, he presumably would turn up on occasions to help build the brand!

I have utmost sympathy for those who really cannot handle alcohol and considering that our man has recently spent 12 weeks in rehab in Arizona where he was under a strict alcohol ban, spending time in bars now, would seem to be a risky hobby?

Stay out of the pub business Paul, we want to see you recover permanently, it ain’t for you anymore. Drink fruit juice, go find another venture to promote your name and fame.


Martin Read CMBII
Managing Director of Inn-dispensable Personal Licence Courses

Law On 'Acting' Drunk Confuses UK Police

You couldn’t make it up!

The Licensing Act of 2003 has many fine regulations including those to ensure that alcohol is sold Responsibly. One of the regulations is aimed to stop "drunken persons" from being served alcohol. The onus falls upon the person serving the alcohol to not do so, but unfortunately there is no definition of 'drunk'. This means that bar staff have to use some common sense (*blimey*) and subjective judgment.

The giveaway signs of 'drunkenness' will likely be a customer’s unsteadiness on their feet, glazed eyes, slurred speech and boozy breath. It is the bar person selling the alcohol who will be the one that could be prosecuted, so they need to be satisfied that the person isn’t drunk. On conviction, they could face a fine of up to £1000!

Interestingly there is no offence for a person who is blind drunk to attempt to buy alcohol, it is an offence however to purchase alcohol for someone who appears to be drunk (so watch out when it is your round) and even more interestingly if the police use "actors" to pretend to be drunk, there is no offence for serving alcohol to a person who is acting as if they are drunk, so all of that time spent by actors at RADA is wasted! Not too sure if it is an offence to buy alcohol for an actor who is acting as if he/she is drunk (will have to await a first case).

A number of police forces have recently employed actors to carry out some test purchases doing just that (pretending to be drunk). No prosecution could be brought to bear because as stated; serving a person pretending to be drunk is not unlawful.

Happy days.


Martin Read CMBII
Managing Director of www.inn-dispensable.com Personal Licence Courses

Beer Vending Machine Installed In London Pub

And now we have it! The introduction in a London pub, of the first beer vending machine to be installed in the UK. No further need to even talk to the friendly, highly-trained, knowledgeable and interesting person behind the bar when getting your beverage. Instead, you can simply put your pound coins into a machine, return to a lonely corner of the pub and sip your vended ale, and not talk to anyone all before going home to eat a pre packed dinner from Tesco.

I’m all for innovation but surely this Japanese-inspired machine is not the way forward?

Apparently, in Japan these machines are hugely popular, and reputedly Japan has a 1 to 50 ratio of vending machines to humans - the highest ratio on the planet.

I rather like talking to the Governor in the pub; so not too sure it will lift off in the Cotswolds!


Martin Read CMBII
Managing Director of Inn-Dispensable Personal Licence Courses

Bloody Well Done George!

1p a pint off for second budget running (first time in history)
Duty escalator on Alcohol scrapped
Pubs helped, jobs created, drinkers happier
Shows the power of listening to those who know best!
Can only repeat; WELL DONE GEORGE!


Martin Read CMBII
Managing Director of Personal Licence Courses

Knowledgeable Bar Staff Sell More Beer

Fred, a long way from home, popped into the Dog and Duck, longing for a pint of good traditional 'real beer' (call it cask ale, call it hand pulled, call it cask conditioned, call it non fizz, call it dry hopped) call it what you like but the essence is that it is brewed naturally and is created from only four main ingredients:

• Hops – to add flavour and aroma
• Malt – to provide fermentable sugars
• Liquor – the brewer’s name for water
• Yeast – to start the fermentation process

Each individual brewer then puts his or her 'Chef’s Hat' on and brews to their own recipe. That's why the fabulous range and diversity of Cask Ales exists within the pub world. Different flavours, colours, strengths, hops, barley, liquor (water), tastes, head retention (the foam), different lacing (the foam as it sticks to the glass), different smell, different glasses to serve it in, different methods of dispense (top fill, bottom fill), different knowledge needed to understand its constitution et al. And all information available for hundreds of beers via Cyclops!

Cyclops Beer is a way of describing beer so that you can find out quickly and easily what a beer will look, smell and taste like. It tells you whether a beer is hoppy or sweet and helps you to discover what you like and what you don’t, so that choosing a beer becomes easier in the future.

British beer is incredibly varied with a whole host of different styles and tastes. Cyclops will help you to discover more about the many thousands of different beers available and make your choice at the bar easier. So are you a hophead, a sweet tooth or a balance of both? Is your favourite beer dark and smoky or golden and grapefruity? Over 1500 beers have been 'Cyclopsed'.

Back to Fred, he looked along the bar counter and saw three choices of Cask Ale on sale. Now, since he was well away from his home territory he had never come across any of them. He asked the bar person to take him through the range and what do you know, the bar person had no idea! Now Fred figured that if they don't know about the beer they sell, then they probably don’t look after it too well either, so he left and went to the Kings Head along the road - where he found a bar person who knew their stuff (It ain't rocket science).

So come on you Landlords, train your staff to be knowledgeable (knowledge is power). Come on an Inn-Dispensable Beer Quality course, learn how to sell the highest quality beer and use Cyclops to impress your customers and keep them from going elsewhere!

Beat your local competition by selling top quality products with top quality knowledge. And all of you customers; get more demanding, ask staff for advice, see what they know. You wouldn’t buy a new computer without expert advice I’ll bet!

Alcohol Advertising Ban in Blackpool

There is little doubt that Britain's Las Vegas, Blackpool, is under pressure to maintain its long and hard earned reputation for fun and frolics. It might soon become the ghost town of closed saloons! The lights might go on shining but there will be little fun to be had.

The council there are now seeking to ban all alcohol advertising outside of pubs. Additionally, they're also looking to ban many licensed outlets from remaining open after 3.00am, known as an EMRO (an Early Morning Restriction Order).

So signs of "Fine Ales", "Cask Condition Ales sold here", "Enjoy a Pint of Fine Ale" et al could become a thing of yesteryear in the bastillion town of good Northern beer!

At a council scrutiny committee meeting recently the members concluded that advertising alcohol "helps encourage an acceptance of drinking and re-enforces positive images of alcohol". Well what do you know, that is the very purpose! They have a concern that young people in particular are enticed by such advertising and are seduced into excess consumption.

I am all for the responsible retailing and consumption of alcohol, and the industry really is doing lots to educate the younger drinker of the perils, but introducing more and more laws and restrictions will only serve to make alcohol itself appear like stolen fruit and stolen fruit as we all know is much more attractive!

Education, Education, Education is the answer, not legislation

Latest Research Reveals Alcohol is Good For Health and Sex

I always knew that my dear old Dad was right when he told me "Son, a little of what you fancy does you good … but all things in moderation". Now I learn that my favourite pastime, a visit to the pub for a few jars is good for me!

Tony Edwards, a science journalist and writer, has brought together leading research on the effects of alcohol and found that, far from being harmful, drinking could prevent illness. Red wine is best, and beer works too - but must still be drunk in moderation.

More good news, drinking can improve your sex life! Tony writes: In a 2009 study, the University of Florence asked 800 women aged between 18 and 50 to answer a standard questionnaire on 'female sexual function'. What did they discover? Teetotallers scored 68 per cent on sexual satisfaction, those who regularly drank a single glass of red wine 72 per cent, and those who often drank two glasses 76 per cent. Ah, but is this a causal relationship or just a correlation? In other words, does red wine marginally improve a woman’s sex life, or do the kind of women who choose to drink it also have a good sex life? We don’t know.

Male wine-drinkers haven’t yet had their sex lives investigated. The only data I can find is that a constituent of red wine increases the effectiveness of the erectile dysfunction drug, Levitra — but only if you’re a rat, perhaps some of my male buddies should be aware of this.

Tony also tells us in his new book, 'The Good News About Booze', that drinking is also good for many (many) ailments and writes: A businessman goes to his GP and complains "My hands hurt, I get a bit of a pain in my chest sometimes, and I’m beginning to forget things". The doctor examines him and says "You’ve got a touch of arthritis, possibly mild heart disease, and you may be in the first stages of dementia. How much are you drinking?". "Never touch a drop, doctor" says the patient proudly. "Ah, that explains it" says the GP, wagging an admonishing finger. "Here’s a prescription for red wine and a few pints of bitter".

So, buy his book and read it in the pub! You will get educated and improve your life chances at the same time (you will also be with like minded people) I think the research should also focus on the fact that a visit to the pub is good for you!

Oh, and before I get castigated; of course "Drink Responsibly".


Martin Read CMBII
Managing Director of Inn-Dispensable Personal Licence Courses

Former Government Drug Adviser Advocates Drug-use in Pubs

Real progress is being made in the academic world! We will soon be able to go down the pub and not only; not have a cigarette, but now not have a drink either. Professor David Nutt, he who was a government advisor but resigned from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs in 2009 after a clash over policy has a new bold and cunning plan!

He is seeking funding (unsuccessfully) to develop a pill that mimics the effect of alcohol without the hangover (one of the joys of drinking in my experience). He claimed the drug would do for alcohol what the e-cigarette had done for smoking. The drug targets the brain to give the taker feelings of pleasure similar to the effects of drinking. However, an antidote can block the sensations immediately, leaving the user free to drive or return to work.

Prof Nutt said the drug could be taken in a range of cocktails. "I’ve done the prototype experiments myself" he said. "I’ve been inebriated and then it’s been reversed by the antagonist".

Is there something in his name do you think?

Not surprisingly the drinks industry has not yet been persuaded to contribute to his research funding.

What next, maybe a pill to replace food? Then we could go to the pub and not smoke, not drink and not eat, this would leave us plenty of time to chat and laugh with our mates. Ah, that’s the future for the pub?!


Martin Read CMBII
Managing Director of Inn-Dispensable Personal Licence Courses

Pub Sales Increase By 10-23% As A Result Of Tax Parity Day

Around 15000 pubs took part in the Tax Parity Day last Wednesday, a campaign (see previous blogs) to seek to have a reduction in VAT for pubs - thereby giving tax parity with supermarkets.

The 15000 pubs reduced their prices on the day so that the new price reflected what would happen if VAT was reduced to 5%, and what do you know? Sales went up!

Many operators recorded increased sales, with Amber Taverns up between 10% to 23%, St Austell up 10% and JDW boss Tim Martin reporting that "Tax Parity Day was an outstanding success with sales up approximately 20%". Many others reported similar success stories.

The theory remains the same; reduce VAT in pubs to give parity with supermarkets and sales will grow. This will create more jobs (700,000 more jobs created in countries that have so far bitten the bullet and reduced VAT) this in turn will increase tax revenue (each extra £3 pint sold in a pub produces £1 in tax and £1 in wages).

A long hard slog, but eventually...??


Martin Read CMBII
Managing Director of Inn-Dispensable Personal Licence Courses

Should We Scrap Personal Licences And Risk Lawlessness in UK Pubs?

Personal Licences were introduced as part of the new Licensing Act 2003 (introduced on November 24th 2005) to effectively provide a qualification by way of training and examination, thereby ensuring those who sell alcohol (and authorise others to sell alcohol) actually know the law of the land and how to ensure alcohol is sold responsibly.

Sound thinking and sound rationale, which replaced the previous system where new licencees had to appear before a magistrate's bench and be challenged on their knowledge of licensing laws - with no national standards of interrogation. So far so good. Thousands of bar staff, off-licence staff and supermarket staff, etc, have achieved the required qualification which in turn has given them a foot on the ladder of professionalism in our industry. So why now should HMG believe it is not fit for purpose? Is it because local authorities have been so depleted of resource, they cannot cope with the administration? Is that what is really behind it?

There are flaws in the Personal Licence system, for example a pub could legally get by with just one Personal Licence Holder (who might also be the Designated Premises Holder, the person in overall charge of the day-to-day running of a Licenced Premises) then have another 6 staff who sell alcohol under the authority of the Personal Licence Courses Holder (you still with me?) but those 6 staff would not have need to have a CRB check (part of the Personal Licence requirement) at all and so could be villains galore.

Maybe the answer is that ALL those selling alcohol should have a Personal Licence, not do away with them?

If our industry is serious about raising professionalism, then understanding the Licensing Law is a vital start point. There's no point in studying: customer service, cellar management, financials controls, wine dispensing, menu planning, employment law, marketing, merchandising, chalkboard skills, pricing strategies, competitor activity - and about another 30 items that a real professional licencee or bar person needs to know - if the first thing you do is to serve someone under-age, or someone who appears to be intoxicated, or serve someone outside of permitted hours, only to find yourself heavily fined or sent to Prison!

Once again we see the UK Government looking to interfere where interference is not needed!


Martin Read CMBII
Managing Director of Inn-Dispensable Personal Licence Courses

Pubs to Drop Drinks Prices on September 25th

The campaign for a VAT reduction to 5% for the pub industry (Tax Parity Day) is hotting up!

The planned day of action looms where thousands of pubs are due to reduce their prices by 7.5% which would mirror the effect of the reduction of VAT to 5%, the anticipated effect of the action days is to see growth in sales of 8%. Sorry about all of the numbers, but it is a mathematical equation to underpin the message that a permanent VAT reduction would see growth of employment and development in the leisure sector.

Tax parity twixt pubs and supermarkets is the goal in all of this, which in turn would likely persuade more people to visit the pub rather that sit lonely at home supping Ale!

Here is the argument; Supermarkets in effect pay little or no VAT on food whereas pubs pay 20%, this enables supermarkets to subsidise their sales of alcohol, this in turns results in a huge gap between pub and supermarket prices. The VAT Club, headed up by Jaques Borel (see my previous blogs) are seeking to have VAT in pubs reduced to 5%, and their case is; Since a pint in a pub is three to four times more expensive than a supermarket the cash VAT per pint levied by the government would be similar in supermarkets and pubs if VAT was reduced as they suggest.

Just one issue, it apparently would cost HMG £12 billion to do it!

Support your pub, visit it on the day of action, put Wednesday 25th September into your diary!

Newcastle Introduce Minimum Alcohol Pricing

"Call me Dave" (Cameron) couldn’t get it introduced, and so Newcastle City Council have gone alone and have introduced a minimum price per unit of alcohol of 50p as a price condition for all new licensed premises - in the on and off trades across the city.

Licensing solicitors John Gaunt suggest that this is not mandatory as the council says that it will 'encourage' compliance and says "it will be interesting to see what happens if and when the Licensing Authority choose to impose such a condition, and whether it will then stand up to the scrutiny of the higher courts".

Newcastle first, the rest of the country tomorrow?

Interesting eh?

Martin Read CMBII
Managing Director of Inn-Dispensable Personal Licence Courses

Under-age Alcohol Sales Laws Courses

We've been running a few courses recently regarding "Prevention of under-age alcohol sales", with a wide range of delegates from pubs, supermarkets, garages and a number of Licensing Officers attending our training.

As a result, no confusion any more:

1. No, you can't sell alcohol to a 16 year old when they eat a meal.
2. No, you can't allow an unaccompanied under 16 year old in without an 18 plus year old to accompany them.
3. Yes, a 16 year old can drink beer, cider or wine with a meal, providing it is purchased by someone over 18, and they accompany them whilst they eat the meal.
4. Yes, a 16 year old can enter a licensed premises, unaccompanied.
5. No, you can't purchase alcohol for anyone under 18.
6. No, you can't send anyone under 18 to purchase alcohol.
7. Yes, you can deliver alcohol to an under 18 year old, if it has been purchased by someone over 18.
8. Oh, and yes, you can be fined up to £5000.
9. Yes, you can be fined up to £20000 for persistent sales to under 18s.

...and yes there are about 30 other laws and regulations about under age sales.

Want to learn more? Phone 02392 345 679. More courses planned!

Martin Read CMBII
Managing Director of Inn-Dispensable Personal Licence Training

Minimum Pricing of Alcohol To Be Dropped

"Call me Dave" Cameron has seen the light and backed away from his "Tough on alcohol pricing" commitment and will be walking away from the plan and eating his words.

I argued with myself in previous blogs and finally came down on the side of supporting the idea, on the grounds that any initiative to reduce the retail price gap twixt pubs and supermarkets would benefit pubs. Well now it’s gone (or going away) to be replaced by a more modest policy with the introduction of a ban on selling very cheap prices or loss leaders.

Most informed people within the industry thought it would never happen, and so it has proved to be. So pubs continue with the challenge to sell on "Value" not on "Price", and what fabulous value. Meet your pals, enjoy good company, watch a match, eat great pub grub, stop being lonely, sit by a warm fire, read a newspaper, play darts , find a romance, contribute to a charity, entertain friends, listen to a band, laugh, tell jokes, hear jokes and much more.

So a pint sat at home for £1.20 versus all of the above for another £1. No contest in my view!


Martin Read CMBII
Managing Director of Inn-Dispensable Personal Licence Courses