Welsh pub operator Brains is urging customers to turn the tap onto an initiative by charity WaterAid. The company is asking customers to make a small donation to the charity whenever they to opt for tap water.
The brewery trialled the scheme when its Pembrokeshire pub and hotel The Grove won the Welsh Assembly Government’s Climate Change Pub Challenge in 2009.
The Challenge saw three pubs across Wales compete to cut down their carbon footprints and asking their community to take action too in fun and engaging ways.
‘Tap into WaterAid’ will use the money to help some of the world’s poorest people access clean drinking water. One in eight people in the developing world do not have access to safe water, 4,000 children die every day from water-related diseases and just £15 could enable one person to access safe water, improved hygiene and sanitation.
Speaking about this initiative, Environment Minister Jane Davidson said:
“I am delighted that as a result of the Welsh Assembly Government’s Climate Change Pub Challenge, Brains pubs will now be asking their customers to choose tap water.
“It is really inspiring to see a great idea by one local pub in Pembrokeshire now being rolled out to 118 pubs across Wales.
“By making small changes such as turning off lights and switching to tap water we can collectively make a huge difference to Wales’ carbon footprint. I applaud Brains for their enthusiasm and commitment to reducing their own carbon footprint and for their support of such a worthwhile charity. ”
Philip Lay, Retail Director at Brains said: “We’re delighted to be supporting WaterAid and will be promoting it in our 118 managed pubs from June. The concept is such a simple one and we’re confident that it will be well received by our customers.”
WaterAid’s Deputy CEO, Andrew Cook, said: “Water is essential for life, yet here we are in 2010 and more than 1 in 8 of the world’s population are without access to it. This and the lack of safe sanitation, results in over 1.8 million people dying from water-related diseases every year.
“We’re so lucky here in the UK – we just turn on a tap and our fresh water is there. It’s great to have Brains on-board and we’d urge people to and ask their favourite pub or restaurant to give Tap into WaterAid a go too. To find out how to take the campaign forward, please visit www.tapintowateraid.org.”
