Brewer calls for pricing legislation

April 4, 2008: Shepherd Neame boss Jonathan Neame has called on the Government to reduce the price differential between the on- and off-trade, and to consider minimum pricing for the latter.

He was addressing a meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group which heard how social reference pricing — a form is minimum pricing — is utilised in Canada.

Mr Neame slammed the increase in duty in the budget and estimated that the move could see 8,000 pubs close with the loss of 80,000 jobs.

l Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Minister Pat McFadden said since confirmed that minimum pricing was being considered by the Government.