Big brewers cleared in ACCC’s pub test

TASTE buds dictate what beers are on tap at local pubs rather than market clout, the competition watchdog says.

A long study had found there was no evidence big brewers were wielding their power to keep craft beer makers at bay, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission said.

But the body representing independent brewers has criticised the finding, saying it does not reflect the reality in the marketplace.

The ACCC yesterday said it had examined contracts after allegations from some craft brewers that the dominant beer makers in Australia, Carlton United Breweries and Lion — owned by Belgium’s Anheuser-Busch InBev and Japanese titan Kirin — were restricting access to beer taps.

Big brewers offered rebate schemes, infrastructure investment and refurbishment loans to venues that agreed to dedi- cate 80 per cent of beer taps to their brands but publicans had broadly raised few concerns, the ACCC said.

“Although some venues had exclusivity arrangements, most pubs and clubs said they did not feel constrained from allocating taps to smaller brewers and could make taps available for craft beer if necessary,” deputy chairman Michael Schaper said.

Lion spokesman Dan Holland said smaller brewers with good beers were able to achieve both distribution and attractive rates of growth.