EBCU members sign first constitution

June 24, 2008: European beer drinkers have reached agreement where national governments have failed — national beer consumer groups from 13 countries meet today to sign the European Beer Consumers Union's (EBCU) first constitution.

The chairs of the current 13 national member organisations will sign the Constitution of EBCU, which encapsulates the aims and objectives of the federation which represents more than 130,000 beer drinkers across Europe, at the Brewers of Europe House, in Brussels.

While consolidation among the world's brewers continues, and global beer brands dominate the market, the EBCU — formed in 1990 — is working hard to ensure that there will still be a wide choice of craft brewed beers available for future generations.

"In a climate where the big brewers continue to get bigger and bigger and lose all contact with their original routes, axing local beer brands and closing breweries, it is essential that the beer drinkers of Europe stand up for local quality beer and fight to protect and promote Europe's beer heritage," said EBCU chairman Terry Lock.

"The latest proposed mega-merger, between InBev and Anheuser-Busch, will, if it succeeds, create a brewer with almost 25% share of the world beer market. How many more local beer brands will be lost whilst this new brewing giant concentrates on promoting its global beer brands?

"It is essential that Europe's beer drinkers come together to fight the threats posed by globalisation in the beer market. The member organisations of EBCU have shown that beer drinkers can reach agreement to enable the consumer's voice to be heard more clearly in the corridors of Brussels and Strasbourg. Perhaps a pint or two of quality craft produced beer could aid national governments to come to a similar accord."

Working together, the 13 national beer consumer organisations — including Britain's Campaign for Real Ale (CAMA) — lobby strongly on issues that concern the beer drinker and pub goer. The EBCU's objectives are:

l The promotion of Europe's beer culture
l The promotion of traditional beer styles
l The promotion of diversity and consumer choice
l To enhance the image of beer
l To represent the interests of consumers

The EBCU's priorities are:

l Competition and choice in the European beer market
l Taxation
l Empowering the consumer