In the news earlier this week, with the report that control of the independent Theakstons' brewery has now passed to the next generation (Morning Advertiser, 2nd October 2011), the family firm is making headlines again by drawing attention to the unfairness of our excise duty rates by revealing that in the last financial year they paid 41% of annual turnover to HMRC (Morning Advertiser, 5th October 2011).
Having discovered Theakston's Old Peculier back in the mid-seventies at the Anglesea Arms in South Ken, I had tremendous admiration for Paul when he disagreed with the rest of the family - hence "Black Sheep" - and went it alone.
One government after another goes for the perceived easy targets, but how long before the golden udders run dry?
