Drinking your way through a recession.

[Stu McKinlay]

I've come across my first real sign of a recession. My brother, a dedicated drinker of good beer (NZ craft beer and Belgians from Regionals mostly), has started buying Stella or Becks because he's on a budget. This is not an accasional "craft" beer drinker. This guy drinks good beer all the time, almost every day. If he was a bit tight in the past he'd drink Mac's at worst...

I think the next couple of years are going to be really hard for craft breweries. We're likely to lose a few. How's the recession going to affect your drinking habits?

[Sam Possenniskie (TGM)]

If I added up how much I've spent on beer in the last few years (or just the last few weeks for that matter) - I think most people would be horrified. But it is my passion. Some people like to spend their funny on some big screen flat TV and Sky, I prefer to drink new and great beers. The only thing that can restrict my spending is the availability of it.

Those who buy a beer just because it is cheap - I wonder why they drink beer at all. Surely a 2L bottle of Coke is cheaper, and is probably a similar mix of sugar and carbonation.

So craft brewers and good pubs, don't fear - The GrandMaster will continue to do his bit to prop up the industry. And in future years, it will have a run-off effect, supporting medical research into severe liver dysfunction!

[Alelover]

http://www.johnhealeymp.co.uk/News_-_Wentworth_Brewery

Read the above link about what the government did in the UK; this was my local brewery who actually got their product into the parliament bar! Good way to ensure publicity! This is what is needed as mentioned in this thread.

[Stu McKinlay]

The Brewers Build of NZ, despite their rather static website, is working on a plan regarding this. There has also been talk about it on the SOBA mail list (in regards to SOBA putting forward a proposal and/or supporting the Guild).

[Steph]

You can buy Epic and Emerson's in the NZ Parliament bar as far as I remember. They had a remarkably good selection that I helped drink the one time I was invited!!

[Greig McGill]

It's not touching my drinking habits. I'll continue to drink my homebrew primarily, and have at least one night out (Fridays at the RCC) a week. Unless I get fired for, you know, typing forum posts when I should be working...

[Greig McGill]

Oh, and I'll also be buying more good beer than I can really afford from Hamilton Wine Company, and The Beer Store. Yay for our brewers and retailers/bar owners who "get it". They get my dollars in good times and in bad.