Talk:2007-09-15

From SOBA

[edit] General Business

Several members have requested that SOBA discusses beer pricing with a view to coming up with an "official policy". This was spurred by increased costs of craft beer at the tap compared to mainstream brands. Should we view high prices as a sign of quality, or a barrier to mainstream drinkers moving to craft beers?

In other news, Stu says:

"I'd like to put forward a motion (or discussion topic) that the following offices are created, and filled by members of the SOBA committee:

• Sponsorship
• Competitions
• Membership
• Campaigns
• Media

Committee to delegate these roles to one member, who will then take responsibility for and leadership of that given area.

I'm not sure if needs to be voted on by the AGM, or if it is just something to raise with the committee after the election."

From the forums:

"We need initiatives beyond meeting/talking amongst ourselves. As I see it the end goals are:

• to see good beer more widely/readily available to all
• to see good beer given the same consideration as fine wine by restaurants/bars/the general public
• to put to bed this silly idea of one brand of beer for life
• to have a positive market impact for great beer, force the big players into measuring up or suffering the consequences of an educated public
• to encourage diversity and experimentation amongst brewers (in the name of better product, NOT just increased market share through shallow gimmicky products)

some ideas to achieve these goals: A definitive good beer guide. We're meant to be the experts here, this is our chance to dictate what we decide is the good oil. To be made available to all bars and beer outlets that have at least one decent beer in their inventory. To be scattered throughout the considerable number of bars who don't have any decent beer on their menu. To be replicated online, with user comments allowed. Along the lines of ratebeer, but with an editorial almost dictatorial tone - again, we are meant to be the experts here.

An "endorsed by SOBA" initiative. Stickers to place on bottles, beermats, posters at POS.

Regular letters to mainstream media requesting that they up their game beer coverage wise. A "have you considered a regular beer column in your publication" suggestion. "Did you know craft beer is on the rise, you need to be covering it, no-one else is doing it yet, be the first". etc.

Thats all for now off the top of my head, there will be more."