A meeting was held at the Golden Fleece in April 1834, Redcross Street, by beerhouse keepers to petition the House of Commons ‘To the removal of grievances under which they labour in the present state of the law. (1830, Beer Act)’ They petitioned that they be given the same rights as full licensed victuallers, particularly if – for example – a half pint of beer was served to a neighbour to take away a couple of minutes after time. Under current law, they could be under threat from informers, who shared in any resulting penalties. The landlords asserted that this encouraged perjury as magistrates were mostly opted to believe them.
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