This term is found mostly in Northern
Ireland.
In Northern
Ireland, if you are claiming benefits (welfare) you are 'On the brew".
Some
people claim benefits despite being completely able bodied and 'fit for work', but rely on 'sick lines' from their
GP so they don't have to work.
A tout comes under various synonyms such as
snitch, rat, nark, informant, grass, whistle-blower.
If you know of someone that does this, you can call up your local job centre and tell them who it is and what they're doing. This will put that person under investigation. Doing this makes you a brew tout. If people find out that you are a brew tout you will be targeted by paramilitaries or anyone associated with the person you touted on and beaten severely including a possible kneecapping.
Billy : Here mate, how do you afford all this gear if you ain't working?
James : On the brew mate, don't have to work and the
money still rolls in, mint mate.
Billy : So what's wrong with
ye? You disabled or sick or something?
James : Na bud just can't be bothered like, can't prove it so what's the problem?
Billy : Ahh shit well fair play to
ye lad, here I gotta jump, see
ye around mate.
*Billy reports James to Benefits agency or Job Centre*
*James goes under investigation and loses his benefits*
All fingers point to Billy as the suspect,
people start calling him a Brew Tout.
Billy's house is visited by the 'boys', his
windows are smashed along with his knees.
All Touts Are Targets (ATAT) is sprayed across his garden fence.
