I have been reading with great interest the report regarding the alleged effects of Stella Artois (The Argus, November 19), and the ensuing correspondence.

For 15 years, until 2007, I helped at the country's largest real ale beer festival in London. This is attended annually by thousands of customers who drink copious quantities of beer and lager, many brands of which are equal to, or exceed, the strength of Stella Artois.

In all those years the instances I have seen of uncontrolled violence, as opposed to merely boisterous behaviour, are minimal.

I became so concerned about this disparity with the disturbances regularly reported in town centres and holiday resorts, both in Britain and abroad, that I wrote to my then MEP, Chris Huhne, with my concerns, in 2002.

I asked Mr Huhne if there was a possibility that Britain could implement, through European legislation, an equivalent to the "Reinheitsgebot"

which has effectively controlled brewing in Germany and other parts of central Europe for more than three centuries. This forbids the addition of chemicals which are commonly used elsewhere, including this country, to pasteurise the beer and preserve it in storage.

The present success of real ale breweries like Greene King must, I think, reflect the growing concern by the public, young as well as old, that both our food and drink should not be contaminated. That has certainly been the case with soft drinks supplied to schools, and I now believe that the brewing industry should either voluntarily, or else be required to, examine the possible harmful effects of the additives it has for years used in the brewing process.

  • Bob Brown, Liberal Democrat councillor for Seaford South, Seaford Town Council