Camra membership tops 100,000

The Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) is celebrating its 100,000th member on the day the Great British Beer Festival kicks off at Earls court in London.

As Camra reaches its 38th year it has stepped up its campaigning for reform of the beer tie, fair taxes on beer, minimum pricing and a zero duty rate on low strength beers. It also wants planning reform to protect well-run community pubs.

Membership increased 9.7% in the last year alone with a recent poll of the public revealing that 41% believed its biggest success is the continued existence of real ale in the majority of pubs.

"We are overjoyed at reaching 100,000 members, brought together by our passion for great British beer and community pubs," said Camra chief executive Mike Benner.

"But while we may relax and raise a glass or two to celebrate at the opening of the Great British Beer Festival today, we are not complacent and tomorrow the hard work campaigning for drinkers' rights will continue."

Camra was formed in 1971 by Michael Hardman, Jim Makin, Graham Lees and Bill Mellor, to protect and promote British beer and pubs.

Hardman added: "The secret of CAMRA's success from its early days right up to now, is the contribution made by these members — an eclectic bunch of young and old, rich and poor, men and women, bosses and workers, fat and thin, northern and southern.

"These are the remarkable and highly knowledgeable people who have made Camra Europe's most successful single issue consumer organisation."

The Great British Beer Festival runs from today (4 August) until 8 August.