Britain’s Beer Orders Restrict Large Brewery Tied Estates

In December 1989, the British government issued the measures commonly called the Beer Orders. Large brewing groups owning more than 2,000 licensed premises were required to dispose of or release ties on excess pubs, and tied tenants gained rights to offer a guest cask-conditioned beer and purchase specified non-beer drinks independently. The orders attempted to increase competition in a pub market dominated by vertically integrated brewers. Their consequences were mixed: brewery ownership fell, but large pub-owning companies subsequently became powerful intermediaries.