The Role of the Internet in the Marketing of Independent Public Houses in the UK

The traditional public house has undergone significant change in the last three decades, making the transition from a male dominated drinking venue to a modern leisure provider. Many independent pubs now offer a variety of products and services to a range of market segments. In recent years there has been plenty of evidence of independent pubs embracing the concept of marketing in response to challenging competitive conditions and customer demands. Many have been very successful at implementing innovative marketing strategies for attracting and retaining customers. Promotional activity has also increased but appears to have been less innovative, concentrating mainly on word-of-mouth and sales promotions. The complex promotional mix used by many commercial organisations is beyond the budget of the majority of independent pubs. Advertising through the media of newspaper or radio is also too expensive and therefore independent pubs may have to seek alternative ways of making the consumer aware of their location and the hospitality that they offer. This paper seeks to explore the potential of the Internet as a marketing communications tool for independent pubs. A review of trade examples and a mini case study are presented to assess the extent to which independent pubs and customers have adopted this technology. The advantages of using this medium are discussed and examples of successful use of the Internet by independent pubs are presented. The problems of time, cost and IT expertise are considered as barriers to adoption.     

Responsible Alcohol Service: Ethics and the Licensee

This article notes the problems experienced in the UK due to excessive alcohol consumption. It offers a brief analysis of the public house sector and then considers the ideal ethical approach of the licensed retailers. Their legal requirements are established, together with the expectations of society. Using an already published source and some similar prime research, the actual performances of the licensees are examined, so as to assess to what extent these ethical expectations are achieved. Suggestions are offered as to how the issues of alcohol service can be best addressed.     

Charity law reform: implementing the Strategy Unit proposals

This paper discusses the recommendations arising from the Strategy Unit review of charities and the wider voluntary sector in England and Wales and the government's response to these. The proposed reforms will involve an updating of charity law; changes to the regulatory framework governing the sector; and a greater emphasis on improving the accountability, transparency and performance of charities and voluntary organisations. In the main these proposals have been welcomed by the sector. In particular there is a clear recognition of the need to modernise the legal position of charities to reflect changes in society and changing public perceptions of what is, or should be, charitable. Copyright © 2004 Henry Stewart Publications     

Reporting on responsible drinking: a study of the major UK pub-owning companies

For much of the 20th century, brewers owned the majority of British public houses. In 1989, the Monopoly and Mergers Commission brought about the dissolution of the brewers' estates, and two types of pub-owning companies emerged. One employed managers, and the other leased their outlets to individual operators. In the present climate of opposition to excessive drinking, their approach to retailing is being brought into question, with public demands for a responsible approach. This article examines the different responses of the major firms within the industry.     

The New Competition in Broadcasting: Trick or Treat?

The broadcasting reforms of the 1990s attempted to combine increased competition with the preservation of the public service ideal. The reforms were called into question when it became clear that the production quality was being undermined by poor information flows and excessive transaction costs. For competition in broadcasting to flourish, closer attention needs to be paid tothe institutional preconditions of effective contracting.     

MATHEMATICAL FORMALISM IN ECONOMICS: CONSEQUENCES AND ALTERNATIVES1

The blinkered insistence upon formalistic modelling has prevented economics from developing in a way that helps us understand the world in which we live. There are alternative approaches to the study of economics that do not use the formal, often closed‐form, models that contemporary mainstream academic economists rely upon. These provide a more promising avenue for future teaching and research.     

Economics as progress: the LSE approach to econometric modelling and critical realism as programmes for research

In the face of claims that economics is increasingly drivenmerely by fashion, this paper draws out certain similaritiesand differences between two self-consciously progressive anddevelopmental research programmes—namely the LSE approachto econometric modelling and critical realism in economics.The argument is that, while these two programmes of researchshare a common point of departure and possess many common elements,what at root distinguishes them is their adoption of opposingphilosophical orientations. The comparison enables both thenature of each programme, and the relevance of their commonconcerns, to be more easily appreciated and helps clarify thesort of evidence that would provide a basis for selecting oneproject over the other.