martincallanan.com

Martin's latest campaigns

Save the great British pub.

: Created on Tuesday, 25 May 2010 20:44; Written by Martin Callanan

Martin - Great British pub campaign As a former Scottish and Newcastle employee, I was saddened by the decision to move production of Newcastle Brown Ale to Tadcaster, but I fear this is yet another symptom of a wider problem. Landlords across the North East are reporting reduced sales and fewer customers. We are already seeing pubs close at a rate of 6 every day. We need to do more to support them.
That’s why I have launched a Get Behind Your Bar Campaign aimed at supporting our local publicans and brewers.

Callanan: tackle binge drinking and support local pubs

: Created on Tuesday, 19 October 2010 15:17; Written by Martin Callanan

Responding to the report by Balance which highlights the effects of selling cheap alcohol, North East Conservative MEP Martin Callanan is calling on the Government to adopt the Conservatives\' approach for dealing with binge drinking while supporting local pubs at the same time.

According to the report by Balance, alcohol-specific hospital admissions are up to 62% higher in the North East than the national average, while separate statistics show that 6 pubs continue to close every day.

Commenting, Martin said: "These two statistics paint a very grim picture indeed. What we know for sure is that we need a new approach. Communities across the North East want to see real action to tackle binge drinking and all the associated issues, such as anti-social behaviour. What is also clear, is that people want to preserve their community life, and their local pub is at the heart of that.

"As I have repeatedly said, local, responsible landlords are not the problem so why should they be penalised? What we need to tackle urgently, is the sale of cheap, high strength alcoholic drinks which are fuelling binge drinking and destroying many lives in the process."

ENDS

Notes To Editors

Martin Callanan\'s \'Get Behind Your Bar\' campaign was launched in 2009. Its three specific aims are designed to support local community pubs by reducing red tape and introducing a fairer tax system while addressing binge drinking. Martin is proposing:

Significant tax increases including on alcopops, strong beer and strong cider that contribute to violence and disorder on our streets. As a result, a 4-pack of super-strength beer will be £1.30 more expensive, a 2-litre bottle of super-strength cider will be 84p more expensive and a large bottle of alcopops will be up to £1.50 more expensive.

Supermarkets and other retailers will be banned from selling alcohol below cost price. This will help tackle the ‘pre-loading’ trend – young people and binge drinkers consuming cheap alcohol at home before going to town centres.

A much tougher licensing regime. Local councils and the police will be given new powers to restrict the large number of late licences awarded to shops, takeaways and other venues.

Public Letter: Protecting British Pubs

: Created on Tuesday, 30 March 2010 00:00; Written by Martin Callanan

30th March 2010

I suppose it was always unlikely. Why after thirteen years of beating responsible pub landlords across the North East at every opportunity, would this Labour government suddenly have a change of heart? In the end, Labour could not resist one final swipe at those who hold they key to improving our communities and tacking irresponsible drinking.