In the last edition, writer Paul Cannell slated some pub companies' "rip-off' prices for soft drinks. This spontaneous article co-incided with a Government survey which will be published just after this edition goes to press. Potters Bar will report on the findings in the next edition.

The 19th Stoke Beer Festival, in September, was attended by almost 5,000 beer and cider lovers, and over 16,000 pints were supped over the five days. The beer quality was far better than last year, and with outside temperatures reaching 800, the 'bubble-wrap' tents and air conditioning units were successful in keeping the beer temperature down. Some CAMRA members are campaigning to get the 20th festival returned to the smaller King's Hall next year. If you have an opinion log on to the CAMRA (Potteries Branch) web site Beer Festival Pages and use the link to access "Mork's" beer festival web site. On the Friday night of the festival over 1,400 people attended without queuing or waiting, so the new venue does have definite advantages over the King's Hall, but not everyone agrees that the Student's Union is the ideal venue. A fuller report of this year's festival will appear in the next edition of Potters Bar.

The Potteries Branch of CAMRA is 25 years old! In the early days the pioneers encountered what was virtually a Real Ale dessert in the Potteries, as Double Diamond and Bass Special proliferated. 25 years on, and it is the bland, fizzy, nitro-dead beers and lagers which are the major threat to good wholesome tasty cask beer. Some of the history of the local branch is told in an article in this issue of Potters Bar

Where does CAMRA "Head of Campaigns" Mike Benner think he is coming from? Benner suggests that an option in a government White Paper to make a 19-ounce pint an official measure is in the drinkers' interest.

For years CAMRA has publicly pursued a full liquid pint. As an example of how it should be done, CAMRA has used oversize line-marked glasses for its beer festivals for the last ten years. Now we are told by head office to lower the line by 5% and it's all right. What utter rubbish, and how stupid CAMRA members are being made to look by this clown.

Benner states that insistence on a full 20-ounce pint might lead to big price increases or the removal of handpumps in favour of metered dispensers. This may happen anyway. Big brewers need no excuse to raise prices - they just do it regardless. And handpumps are currently being ripped out of pubs at a phenomenal rate to make way for nitrofizz. I call on CAMRA head office not to sacrifice a fundamental aim, and to insist on a full 20oz pint!