The Campaign for Real Ale held its annual reception in Parliament on Wednesday. The Campaign (CAMRA) campaign for real ale, community pubs and consumer rights.

The annual reception was held in order to lobby MPs on supporting lowering or freezing beer duty, and also encouraging those in attendance to sign up and become a member of CAMRA. Over 100 MPs, Peers and CAMRA volunteers were in attendance.

At the reception, a range of real ales was provided to guests in order to promote the cause.

“27 pubs close each week” says CAMRA’s chief executive Tim Page. The campaign aims to reduce the number of pubs being closed nationwide, by reducing duty and taxes, which inflate alcohol prices. CAMRA also aims to support independent, small, or simply good beer and ale brands, which can be overshadowed by mainstream cheaper brands.

Angela Mills, regional director for the Campaign said, “It is a big problem for lots of people, the majority of each community visits pubs. Everyone benefits from having a local pub. It is sad to see the damaging affect on businesses that the high duty and high rent prices are having on these establishments. We all need to support local pubs.”

In the past The Campaign for Real Ale has actively campaigned for the preservation of local pubs by ‘encouraging communities and pub-goers to persuade their local council to list their pub as an Asset of Community Value (ACV). So far more than 1,250 pubs are listed as ACVs’ according to camra.org.uk.

In 2014 Business Secretary Vince Cable showed his support for the cause by stating he was “on CAMRA’s side”