Pubs across Norfolk and Suffolk will be serving two newly created Moon Gazer beers to highlight the importance of talking and checking in on your mates. The beers have been brewed by North Norfolk brewery, Moon Gazer Ales, in support of locally based mental health charities: the 8:56 Foundation and Mind Norfolk and Waveney.
By focusing on mental health awareness, pubs and others taking part in the campaign can also highlight any local mental health charities or groups they already support. Many support groups are very local, and our campaign will help showcase the great work they all do within our communities
The campaign is supported by 100 pubs across Norfolk and Suffolk during January. As well as serving the beer, the pubs will display key information and advice.
Often, simply taking the time to talk and listen to people can make a real and genuine difference. We hope that the campaign will bring attention to mental health and the importance of talking and listening. One in five people report experiencing a common mental health problem (such as anxiety or depression) and one in thirteen people having attempted suicide at some point in their lives
Sadly, over 4,200 men in England and Wales lost their lives to suicide in 2024, which is one man every two hours, every day of the year. However, behind those numbers are real people and real families.
Through their Wellbeing Pathway, the Norfolk-based men’s mental health charity the 8:56 Foundation offers events such as Men’s Time Socials and support groups, designed to bring men together through sport to reduce loneliness and isolation, and to offer support. Their Support Hub provides guidance for self-care and boosting wellbeing, alongside links to other crisis and local support groups. They see the pub campaign as a great way to engage and encourage people to talk and check in on each other, as charity Trustee Richard Watson explains:
“Pubs have long served as welcoming spaces where people can find friendship, connect with others, or simply enjoy the comfort of being among friendly faces. These environments can play a vital role in supporting emotional wellbeing.
“It’s time to talk differently about mental health and through this campaign, we aim to encourage a greater understanding of the importance of genuine conversations. Sometimes, asking someone how they are—then asking again—can make all the difference. Knowing that someone truly cares can give people the confidence to open up and share their feelings – a simple conversation can save a life”
The names of the two beers are designed to prompt debate. The first beer, Time To Talk, encourages people to take time to talk and to listen, while the second beer, called You Alright?, will hopefully prompt people to ask that simple question.
The campaign will run in pubs throughout January and is hoped to be the start of a more sustained approach among pubs to keep pushing the message, as well as highlighting just how important an asset they are to their community.
All pubs are the heart of their community—a place where people can go not to be alone. This is particularly true in the more rural communities of Norfolk and Suffolk, where the pub is often the only venue people can go.
We may not know everyone’s name in our own local, but often you know the faces. We really do hope we can change those faces into friends and get people to take the time to talk, and to ask that simple question: You Alright?