Local pubs and breweries hold key to responsible drinking

6.01.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 19th Oct 2009

Kent's Euro MP Catherine Bearder today blamed Labour's failure to support local pubs and breweries for the increasing link between alcohol and anti-social behavior.

On Friday 16th October Catherine visited Westerham Brewery in Kent and discussed many of the problems facing local breweries and pubs with manager Robert Wicks.

Catherine commented:

"Labour's attempt to tackle binge drinking in the UK is failing. It needs to encourage responsible drinking, and the key to this is working with local pubs and breweries."

"Much of the anti-social behavior caused by drinking happens when cheap supermarket alcohol is bought and consumed in streets or car parks. If we want safer drinking then we need to stop the sale of pitifully cheap alcohol in supermarkets and encourage people to drink in the responsible environment of their local pub."

"Kent has some fantastic local breweries producing beers and ales that are known across the country. If people go into their local pub and drink a beer made in Kent then they're not only helping to create jobs for their neighbours, they'll be drinking in a more responsible way."

"When it comes to EU funding, Kentish beer brewers are at a disadvantage compared to their competitors in the wine and spirit industries. We must make European funds fairer so breweries like Westerham are able to compete on a more even footing."