Dutch brewer Heineken has been hit with a $2.58 million fine for forcing its pub tenants to stock “unreasonable levels” of its beers.
The Pubs Code Adjudicator (PCA), which regulates large bar chains in the UK ruled that the on-premise pub business Star Pubs & Bars, an arm of Heineken, had “seriously and repeatedly” breached its code of practice over the last three years. Pub tenants who asked to list beers brewed by competitors were told that they are only allowed to sell keg beer from Heineken.
The PCA called the pub group a “repeat offender”, claiming the it had “intentionally or negligently failed” to change its operations despite having the opportunity to do so.
Full story here in The Drinks Business