CAMRA Membership and Organisation

What is Camra?

CAMRA is an independent, voluntary, consumer organisation. Membership is open to all individuals, but corporate entities such as breweries and pubs are not members. CAMRA is governed by a voluntary unpaid national executive, elected by the membership. There is a small professional staff of fourteen responsible for central campaigning, research, administration of membership, sales and so forth.

How is CAMRA Financed?

CAMRA has investments yet is financed through membership subscriptions, sales of products such as books and sweatshirts, and from the proceeds of beer festivals. We receive no funding from the brewing industry other than a limited amount of advertising in our monthly newspaper “What’s Brewing”. We are a not for profit company limited by members guarantee and our accounts are lodged annually with Companies House.

CAMRA’S Objectives?

CAMRA’s mission is to act as champion of the consumer in relation to the UK and European beer and drinks industry. It aims to:
• Maintain consumer rights
• Promote quality, choice and value for money
• Support the public house as a focus of community life
• Campaign for greater appreciation of traditional beers, ciders and perries as part of national heritage and culture
• Seek improvements in all licensed premises and throughout the brewing industry
• CAMRA also seeks to promote real cider and perry through a sub-organisation called APPLE. Like ale, these are traditional British drinks and like ale, the traditional product is very different from the ‘dead’ version.

CAMRA In Europe

CAMRA also lobbies at European level – the Commissions competition division is always interested in the tied house system, reform of the UK excise duty system will require EC approval, European legislation affects ingredients, labelling and other such issues.

CAMRA is a founder member of the European Beer Consumers Union (EBCU) which brings together independent voluntary consumer groups from the UK, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden and Switzerland to lobby for drinkers interests at a European level.