Why has there not been a beer drinkers' consumer organization arise in North America? Heck, Poland had a political party. Sure there are the internet chat groups and very accessible brewers as well as beer journalists but ought there not be a North American Beer Drinkers' Association like to CAMRA - or maybe something more appropriate to the regional mindset? Maybe Ralph Nader just doesn't like beer. Maybe we just don't like getting together than much.The over-riding aim of the organisation is to ensure 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 ECBU chairman Terry Lock.
By the way, the EBCU has a website and a news item about their new constitution but I don't actually see a copy of the constitution itself. Anyone have a copy?
Comments
Thomas - June 19, 2008 1:48 pm
Well North America is made of 3 seperate nations with seperate regulator systems. The EU is while made of seperate nations in theory is working for a single infied government so until we move to such a system I don't think the idea would really fly.
That said I think this is the role the AHA currently serves in the US and while I know they have members in other countries it has seemed to me that they really have no interest in a more international tackling issues, they have enough battles to keep them busy stateside.
Buttle - June 19, 2008 2:46 pm
"Protect our heritage" isn't the rallying cry in North America as it is in Europe. What would we protect in the US: Schaeffer's? Sierra Nevada Pale Ale?
Also, in the US at least, the attitude is that the market dictates. You want to "ensure there will still be a wide choice of craft brewed beers available for future generations"? Buy their stuff. A consumer group would either be a minority scene of "beer geeks," or would represent all the Bud/Molson/Corona drinkers, who don't give a damn about big corporations contorlling so much of the market.
Alan - June 20, 2008 7:53 am
Hey - the new format is up! Let me find my way around...
Donavan - June 20, 2008 8:16 am
We (a few of my buddies) started a "consumer group" here on Long Island (beermalt.org). We're still working out exactly what our mission is, but CAMRA is something of an inspiration if not the model (they seem a bit uptight). The amateur craftbrewers are well organized and have many things going on, but there was a lack of beer focused activity for the craft beer drinkers who are primarily interested in drinking good beer rather than brewing it themselves. We would like to help launch and support new breweries here on Long Island. We've adopted Blind Bat Brewery and hopefully with a little grassroots drinking will make that fledgling enterprise a success. Cheers!
Alan - June 20, 2008 8:20 am
Hey Donavan! That is a good point. One success of CAMRA is certainly the local branches that do much of the heavy lifting.
Tim - January 23, 2009 10:43 am
Why not just start your own? Like CAMEL for instance
Alan - January 23, 2009 11:38 am
I already started CAMWA and that occupied most of my spare time.