Bitter taste

NEXT year, the House of Lords is set to pass what will be transformational legislation in England and Wales — an end to the tied pub model.

This change will free up the market for smaller businesses like ourselves to sell our products more openly and will also give pub operators the opportunity to compete more directly and more fairly with larger pub chains. The public are often frustrated when unable to get the beer of their choice in their local pub. They don’t understand that the landlords’ hands are often tied.

The legislative move is of crucial importance to the future of British pubs — but it won’t automatically apply to Scotland. We need to change that. A similar change in Scotland would give tenancies the freedom to buy their products at competitive prices and run their businesses far more effici ently t han at present. Through time this will allow them to provide a much better service to their customers, thereby safeguarding jobs and investment.

We urgently call on the Scottish Government to allow for a legislative consent motion, in order that Scottish pubs are not unfairly disadvantaged compared with the rest of the UK.

We’re also seeking a change to Westminster’s proposal. Currently, with regards to what tenants in England and Wales can buy outside the tie, there is reference only to ‘guest ale’. We ask that this is changed to ‘guest beer’, which would allow beer, ale and lager all to be included.

The brewing industry in this country is enjoying a renaissance and it seems entirely absurd that legislation in 2014 does not give the same protection to lager and beer as that offered to the ale breweries.

Across the i ndustry, our immediate concern is safeguarding the competitiveness of produce created by Scottish producers, plus ensuring that our pub scene is as healthy — and as attractive to the public — as possible.

However, for this to happen, we need immediate dialogue between the Scottish Govern- ment and Westminster. Scotland’s licensed industry is crying out for change, allowing quality, locally produced beer to gain a foothold in regional markets, which we are currently excluded from due to major distributor stocking policies.

This will result in a far more interesting and profitable line up of beers for entrepreneurial leaseholders — a good thing for producers, publicans and, ultimately, the public. It would be grossly unfair if Scottish tenants were left out of these new arrangements.

JOHN GILLIGAN, Tennent Caledonian Breweries; STEVE

STEWART, Stewart Brewing; TOBY KNOWLES, Harviestoun Craft Beers; JAMIE DELAP, Fyne

Ales; SAMANTHA FAIR, Cairngorm Brewery; FERGUS CLARK, Inveralmond Brewery; PETRA M. WETZEL, West Brewery;

NEIL STRACHAN; Deeside Brewery; SCOTT WILLIAMS, Williams Brothers and PAUL WATERSON, Scottish Licensed

Trade Association.