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What is CAMRA?

CAMRA is a voluntary, independent consumer organisation. Membership is open to all individuals, but corporate entities such as breweries and pubs are not members,. CAMRA is governed by a voluntary unpaid national executive, elected by the membership. there is a small professional staff of 14 responsible for central campaigning, research, administration, membership and so forth.

CAMRA is financed through membership subscriptions, sales of products such as books and sweatshirts and from the proceeds of beer festivals. CAMRA receive no funding from the brewing industry other than a limited amount of advertising in the monthly magazine "What's Brewing". They are not a "for profit" company and are limited by members guarantee and the accounts are lodged annually with Companies House.

While CAMRA is a single industry group, it has a very wide area of campaigning interests. At present campaigns they are actively pursuing include the following

• Improved competition and choice within the industry

• Preserving the British pub and defending licensees from eviction by pub owners

• Seeking a fairer tax system for smaller brewers

• Seeking fuller information about the beer we drink i.e. listed ingredients

• A fundamental reform of the licensing law (e.g. all day Sunday opening if the licensee wishes)

• Fighting take-overs and mergers

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CAMRA Objectives

CAMRA's objectives are to act as champion of the consumer in relation to the UK and European beer and drinks industry. It aims to:

• Maintain customer rights

• Promote quality, choice and value for money

• Support public houses as a focus for community life

• Campaign for greater appreciation of traditional beers, ciders and perries as part of national heritage and culture

• Seek improvements in all licensed premises and throughout the brewing industry

• CAMRA also seeks to promote real cider and perry through a sub-organisation called APPLE. Like ale, these are traditional British drinks and like ale, the traditional product is very different to the "dead" version.

CAMRA also lobbies at European level - the Commissions competition division is always interested in the tied house system, reform of the uK excise duty system will require EC approval, European legislation affects ingredients, labelling ans other such issues

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CAMRA Success

It is no exaggeration to say that CAMRA saved real ale and as a result many independent breweries. There were no new ale breweries set up in UK for the 50 years before CAMRA was formed. There are now around 300 new brewers producing real ale - part of a real ale revival.

Membership has increased by 30,000 since 1989 to 50,000 in 1997.

CAMRA has defeated several brewery take-overs. They were successful in seeing more liberal licensing laws introduced in England, Scotland and Wales. They got the brewers to declare the strengths of their beers and are close to success in seeing a list of ingredients. CAMRA campaign against he closure of local pubs or their destruction through refurbishment. For many years they have sought fundamental change in the industry to protect consumer choice. The introduction of a guest real ale in pubs of the national brewers is a victory for 15 years for campaigning

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