SIBA backs Welsh Brewery social responsibility plea

The Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) has shown its support for a North Wales brewers’ call to the industry to take its social responsibility more seriously.

Jonathan Hughes of Great Orme Brewery made the call recently following his decision to use the Chancellor’s recent 1p drop in duty to help reduce the negative effects of alcohol abuse.

Jonathan, supported by the National Association of Children of Alcoholics (NACOA) charity to which he has pledged to donate the difference, is calling on others in the industry to use the duty drop to make a positive contribution to the wider community.

The show of support from SIBA adds weight to this call.

Keith Bott, owner of the Stoke-on-Trent based Titanic Brewery, chairman of the Society, said

“We are hugely supportive of the idea. I think it encapsulates everything that the British brewing industry is about, in particular independent brewers and the way they can support the wider community.

“Every brewer will decide what they do themselves but this is a fantastic idea which illustrates one of the ways in which we can be supportive.

“We (Titanic) have seven pubs in and around Stoke-on-Trent and we channel our support back into our local around those pubs through our support of a number of local charities.”

Keith Bott, owner of the Stoke-on-Trent based Titanic Brewery

When he heard about the duty cut, Conwy-based brewer Jonathan saw it as an opportunity to support a charity that helps those affected directly or indirectly by alcohol and, as such, decided to donate the difference from his beer to NACOA.

While he acknowledges that his will be a small contribution in financial terms, he hopes that the move will encourage other breweries – large and small – to follow his example.

He said:

“British beer making is in a renaissance, with more small producers offering a wealth of amazing real ales and true regional diversity. We are very proud to be a small part of that diversity. However, I do believe that if we, as a sector, are to be socially responsible then we must acknowledge the potential negative aspects of alcohol and take steps to address it.

“My plan is that rather than pocketing that 1p duty reduction, we donate it to NACOA. I would call on other alcohol producers – big and small – to look at practical ways they can help reduce the effects of alcohol abuse on society.”

Jonathan Hughes of Great Orme Brewery

Jonathan Hughes founded Great Orme Brewery on his family dairy farm in 2005, when farming operations were being wound down.

NACOA is a registered charity founded in 1990 to address the needs of children growing up in families where one or both parents suffer from alcoholism or a similar addictive problem.

It offers information, advice and support to children of alcohol dependent parents and aims to: reach the professionals who work with these children; raise the profile of the subject in the public consciousness; and to promote research into the problems faced by those growing up with parental alcoholism and into the prevention of alcoholism developing in this vulnerable group of children.