Many of you will have noted the recent advertising for a ‘craft Brew Festival’ to be held in Neepsend in September. The ticket price is £35 upwards, depending on the session attended. Included in this fee is ‘five hours of unlimited craft beer.’
I believe that offering unlimited alcohol over a five hour period is irresponsible and will lead to attendees over indulging. It does not encourage responsible drinking.
It is also divisive: many of us, for many reasons, are restricted in our alcohol intake. For example, while recovering from radiotherapy, I recently attended Indie Beer Feast in Sheffield: almost five hours attendance saw me drink seven beers, a total of 2 and one third pints. I had an excellent time, meeting many friends, aiding my recovery. However, such a price tag would have meant non-attendance.
Why not have a pricing policy similar to the forthcoming Sheffield Steel City Beer and Cider Festival? Thursday 17 October will cost non-CAMRA members £17. This includes £10 beer tokens which are refundable if not used plus a glass (£3) which is also refundable on exit. If you don’t drink, up to eleven hours on site, including the entertainment and the river Don Steam Engine will cost you the princely sum of £4 (CAMRA members, £2). If you do sample some of the over 200 beers available, you will pay for exactly what you imbibe.