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An independent statistical company, CGA, has drawn a startlingly different picture of real ale's share of the beer market. CGA's survey shows that cask ale sales are actually around five million barrels a year, and that cask in reality is more than 20% of total on-trade beer sales, making it the second biggest category after heavily advertised standard lagers.
CGA found that compared to 2001 there were another 1,160 pubs stocking cask ale, a 2.9% increase, which means that 63% of pubs now sell at least one cask ale.
He explains that the 3.2% "standard" lager was peculiar to Britain, deriving from experiences on the early package holidays with stronger continental brews served in measures smaller than a pint.
Thus Hofmeister, Harp, Carling, Skol and others were created and marketing departments given the task of selling the weak and flavourless fizz. This led to the Hofmeister bear "George", Heineken "refreshment", Carling's "I bet he drinks..." and other classic ad campaigns.
All however suggested a foreign origin for these very British beers.
A DTI survey a few years ago found that outlets which don't display often charge more than those which do and that soft drinks often cost more than beer per litre.
The draft guidance from the Dept. of Culture, Media and Sport lays out a tough regime for troublemaker pubs. However there are clear limits on the scope local authorities have to interpret the Act. For instance they will not be able to set a blanket ban on excluding children from pubs.
Meanwhile officials in those licencing authorities (District or Unitary councils) are saying they're a long way from being ready. They are required to take six months to consult the licensed trade and to write their new licensing policies. That's followed by a nine-month transition period for processing licence applications but all of that is only possible once the necessary guidance and regulations have been issued by the Government.
Details of the new personal licence qualification have also been published. Those who currently hold a justice's licence can get a personal licence without having to have a licensing qualification, providing certain criteria are fulfilled. Applications must be made during the transition period, which may end in January 2005 but it may be much later.
After two years of delay, things are beginning to progress. The Security Industry Authority and the Learning and Skills Council are setting up training courses leading to acceditation and licensing.
Licences are being phased in, with the East of England's applications for licences due to start on 4th October 2004 and licences being required from 3rd January 2005. The aim is that by 11th April 2005 a SIA licence will be required everywhere in England for door supervisors.
Part of acceditation is intended to be vetting by the Criminal Records Bureau, which itself has been subject to set-up delays.
For everyone else the best course is to write the hours into a pub's premises licence via the operating statement. Failing that they can apply for a variation of the premises licence, which may or may not be straightforward.