Problems brewing for the proper pint as Camra membership falls

Cost of living has hit campaign group while multinationals are threatening to squeeze out independent breweries

For centuries, the wooden real ale pump has been the hallmark of a good British boozer. But now problems are brewing for the proper pint, as the Campaign for Real Ale has seen its membership sink to an eight-year low and its accounts show it is firmly in the red, making an 800,000 loss last year.

Real ale is a traditional draught cask beer, a living" product that is produced and stored in its cask. It differs from a cold, fizzy lager, in which the yeast is killed and carbon dioxide is added. Real ale contains live yeast so it continues fermenting until it is served.