DCSIMG

Sponsored by Ford and Warren
Regulator rules on pub 'super complaint'


Published on Thursday 22 October 2009 12:08

THE consumer regulator is set to announce today whether tie-in arrangements which force pub tenants to take beer supplies only from their landlords should be referred to the Competition Commission.

A spokesman for the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) said the statement, which has been eagerly awaited by tenanted operators such as Punch Taverns, Enterprise Inns and Marston's will be issued at 7am.

The OFT investigation followed a "super complaint" by the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) which claimed "high rents and 'tied' beer prices are driving many good pub landlords out of business and contributing

to the destruction of Britain's pubs."

Camra was entitled to raise the "super complaint", which compelled the OFT to investigate the issue, because of its status in Britain as a recognised consumer body.

More than 50 pubs are closing each week, according to the British Beer and Pubs Association, which represents the industry. Tenanted operators, already grappling with massive debt levels, the impact of the recession and competition from cheap alcohol offers in supermarkets, will be hoping a referral is avoided.

"The industry has been declared 'fit for purpose' 23 times over the past several decades, so we believe that it should be in the clear this time.

"However, it never pays to second guess the regulator," said Deutsche Bank analyst Geof Collyer.


loading...
Find It

"Business owner? - Claim your business and Advertise with us"

In association with qype logo

Looking for...

Featured advertisers

Jobs

Search for a job

Motors

Search for a car

Property

Search for a house

Weather for Yorkshire

Friday 25 May 2012

5 day forecast

Today

Sunny

Sunny

Temperature: 10 C to 23 C

Wind Speed: 20 mph

Wind direction: East

Tomorrow

Sunny

Sunny

Temperature: 8 C to 20 C

Wind Speed: 16 mph

Wind direction: East

Press Complaints Commission

This website and its associated newspaper adheres to the Press Complaints Commission’s Code of Practice. If you have a complaint about editorial content which relates to inaccuracy or intrusion, then contact the Editor by clicking here.

If you remain dissatisfied with the response provided then you can contact the PCC by clicking here.

Yorkshire Post provides news, events and sport features from the Yorkshire area. For the best up to date information relating to Yorkshire and the surrounding areas visit us at Yorkshire Post regularly or bookmark this page.