Cross-party support for new laws to help give ‘tied’ pubs more choice

Plans to give so-called “tied” pubs more choice over what they sell have secured crossparty backing at Holyrood.

Scottish Labour MSP Neil Bibby can now take forward his member’s Bill after Labour, Lib Dem, Green and Tory MSPS signalled their support.

The legislation is aimed at helping pubs that have a “tied” arrangement with the large companies that own them, often known as “pubcos”.

Tied pub tenants must buy some or all of their products from the pubco, which can restrict the choice of beer, cider, wine and spirits for drinkers, and can force pub tenants to sell more expensive drinks. More relaxed rules were introduced in England and Wales from May 2016 and while there is a voluntary code in place in Scotland, critics say this does not go as far as the statutory arrangements south of the border.

Mr Bibby’s Bill would create a statutory code to regulate the relationship between tied pub tenants and landlords as well as an independent adjudicator to enforce the code.

The move is backed by organisations including the Scottish Licensed Trade Association, the Campaign for Real Ale, GMB Scotland, the Federation of Small Businesses and the Scottish Tourism Alliance.

A spokesman for the Scottish Licensed Trade Association said: “Tenant licensees are in a very vulnerable position and the sector needs legislation in Scotland to ensure that pub tenants get a fair deal and that they are no worse off than a free-of-tie licensee.”