Better off

All this talk of the good old days is pure nonsense, writes Adam Withrington, it's never been so good - well, for the consumer anyway...

As we do business in this current atmosphere of accusations and finger pointing by both politician, police and public the old clichés start to be heard. "Things were so much better in my day - the beer was better, the pubs were better and people behaved better."

Well I have one word for that - codswallop. There's never been a better time to be a pub-goer - certainly when it comes to drinks. There is more choice and better quality of product and of serve, as well as a better equipped set of licensees.

Thirty years ago the country's pubs were awash with the same old keg ales and what little cask beer there was tended to be of poor quality. Wine? Well forget about it, unless you are a strange Hirondelle or Blue Nun fanatic.

Wine was poorly kept, marketed and served. Spirits sold well but again tended to be served poorly.

Today, despite some purists' dislike of the big brand lagers present on every bar, licensees have more choice.

Even if you are tied on beer there are a wider range of ales available. Wine in pubs has developed fantastically, with sales skyrocketing thanks to better range, knowledge and serve.

While the last 30 years may have seen the end of sherry as a big drink in pubs, other spirits have flourished, particular in the last five to ten years, with best practice from the new gaggle of style bars being shared across the trade.

This is not to say things are perfect.But licensees should be proud of the drinks they serve and most drinks companies and brewers should be satisfied with the quality of product they provide. Bring on the next 30 years.

What your bar would have looked like in:​