Family brewers concerned over beer tie plans

Family Brewers are to seek "urgent clarification" on John Healey's proposals to reform the beer tie.

Healey said the industry had until June 2011 to offer a free of tie option and offer a guest beer right to those who are tied.

However, the details of the proposals remain thin on the ground and the Independent Family Brewers of Britain (IFBB) has voiced great concern.

"There is potentially an enormous impact on the 26 members of the IFBB if the beer tie element of John Healey's proposal is implemented.

"This will be detrimental to our members if it applies to family owned tenanted pub owning breweries.

"It is unclear however, within his proposal, if the reference to the beer tie is aimed at traditional brewery tied tenancies, as offered by our members, or not.

"Nor is it clear whether pub owning companies breweries with less than a specified number of tied pubs are excluded from these arrangements.

"This is very a important element of the Government's announcement and we would welcome urgent clarification on this point."

The Morning Advertiser understands that the Government will consult with the industry over the proposals.

The Campaign for Real Ale has already vowed to fight the corner of the family brewers. It believes any company with under a 1% market share should be exempted from both proposals.