CAMRA says there is still a chance the government will overturn the Office of Fair Trading’s (OFT) decision on the beer tie during, following a meeting with ministers yesterday.

Three CAMRA officials met with consumer minister Kevin Brennan and business minister Pat McFadden in Westminster to urge them to send the matter to the Competition Commission.

Labour peer, Lord Bilston, a long-term supporter of the trade, also attended the meeting offering his backing for CAMRA.

Jonathan Mail, CAMRA’s head of public affairs, said: “It’s very encouraging they agreed to this meeting and they have not dismissed the possibility this decision would be overturned.”

Last month the OFT rejected CAMRA’s super-complaint on the way the beer tie is being operated, saying there was no evidence it was having a detrimental effect on consumers.

But CAMRA has challenged this decision and is determined the Competition Commission look at the issue.

Mail added: “We used the meeting to reiterate to the government it must overturn the decision and send it to the Competition Commission.

“We reiterated our concerns over exploitation of the tie by the larger companies and the higher wholesale prices being paid by tied tenants compared to free-of-tie licensees.”

it is understood the ministers will see other groups involved in the debate, including the British Beer & Pub Association.

Taken from:  The Publican

By James Wilmore