The All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group has named Ryan Sabey, deputy political editor at The Sun, as its ‘Beer Drinker of the Year’ for 2026.  

This is the first time this award has been granted to a journalist. Sabey has been deputy [olitical Editor at The Sun since 2022. Part of the paper’s politics team since July 2015 , he has covered three general elections, six Prime Ministers in office and one Brexit referendum.

He has travelled with several Prime Ministers around the world including covering Sir Keir Starmer at NATO in Washington DC, Rishi Sunak at the COP climate conference in Dubai and  David Cameron at the United Nations. He contributes to Sky News, Talk and also guest hosted The Sun’s Never Mind The Ballots show during the general election.

Commenting on the award, beer droup Chair, Tonia Antoniazzi MP, said “Ryan has long supported the local pub and brewers through the Sun’s Save Our Sups campaign, shining a light on all the issues facing the sector today, from Business Rates to the Bevvy Levy, pint prices to pub closures. I am delighted that he has won this year’s Beer Drinker of the Year Award”. 

The group also presented a number of other Awards at the Annual Beer Awards Dinner. The award for ‘Excellence in Brewing’ went to Martyn Weeks, director of brewing and operations, Robinson’s Brewery; ‘Brewer of the Year’ was Eddie Gadd of Ramsgate Brewery; ‘Beer Parliamentarian of the Year’ was Will Forster, MP for Woking and ‘Lifetime Achievement’ went to Des O’Flanagan, chairman of PubAid.