22 December 2009
By Emily Ryans
CAMRA has today announced that it will use its powers under the Enterprise Act 2002 to issue a legal challenge to the Office of Fair Trading's (OFT's) recent decision to reject its
super-complaint on the beer tie, by referring the OFT's decision to the Competition Appeals Tribunal. CAMRA's super-complaint aimed to secure a sustainable future for Britain's pubs, a fair deal for consumers and stem the flow of the 52 pubs closing every week across the UK.
Mike Benner, CAMRA's Chief Executive said:
'We've seen the consumer watchdog scrutinised in previous years with the success of the Association of Convenience Stores' appeal in 2005 in overturning the OFT's decision at Tribunal level. Pending the success of our appeal, CAMRA remains optimistic of Government intervention or a referral to the Competition Commission for a full investigation into the UK pub market.'
Bob Young, a former member of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission and respected Principal of Europe Economics, has said the OFT's response was "as inadequate as CAMRA's super-complaint was compelling.
The OFT has not seriously considered whether there is fair competition at a local level which ensures that consumers, or pub landlords for that matter, get the best deal. This is a critical shortcoming in the OFT's response to CAMRA."
The appeal will depend upon CAMRA members, associated trade bodies and all those with a stake in the industry helping us to raise the money. CAMRA ahs therefore launched its fundraising campaign and you can donate at
wwww.camraappeal.org.uk.
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