Watering the beer

There's a tendency here in the rainy North of England to laugh at the news that the sun-soaked South is about to have a hosepipe ban imposed, just before spraying the garden with a few gallons from the brimming local reservoir.  But the news might not be so funny if you drink beer.

Although brewers are confident they have enough water for brewing, the British Beer and Pub Association is warning that a continuing drought in the South and East of England will push up the prices of hops and malt with a knock-on effect on pub prices.

Yet another reason to cut the tax on beer!