The Campaign is championing orchards in October with its biannual cider and perry month celebration as this season’s harvests are gathered.

CAMRA wants to see more apples being used in cider production – not imported, concentrated juice.

Despite the UK being self-sufficient in cider apples, many of the largest manufacturers use only the legal minimum amount of freshly pressed juice required or import cheaper concentrates from abroad, leaving traditional orchards to decline.

Ahead of the government’s review of the definition of cider for duty purposes, the Campaign is taking consumers back to where cider begins and celebrating high-quality, real cider made from fresh juice.

This follows CAMRA research from YouGov showing 93 per cent of survey takers rated the preservation of traditional orchards as important. Some 87 per cent said raising the minimum juice content of cider to help halt the loss of orchards was also important. 

CAMRA’s real ale, cider and perry campaigns director Gillian Hough said: “It’s fantastic news that government will review the definition of cider for duty purposes. The sector is undergoing a renaissance with producers new and old alike creating high-quality, high-juice content ciders and perries.

“Seeing government respond to this with a commitment to ensure the tax system reflects and supports the industry is a timely and welcome step and we’d like to see this review guarantee that cider must contain at least 50 per cent freshly pressed juice for duty purposes. 

“CAMRA has long been concerned that the current system incentivises some of the largest manufacturers to make ciders with more water than juice, which in turn drives the loss of our traditional orchards. 

“We know that orchards are of benefit to the environment and our mental health, so I’d urge all consumers to join the October Cider and Perry Month celebrations this harvest season and go explore and experience local orchards, ciders and perries.”