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Australia: Indie beer brewers get help from ACCC

By  |  June 1, 2014

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is reportedly taking up the task of investigating the nation’s two largest beer brewers following allegations they are abusing their market power to squeeze smaller competitors out of the market.

Lion, along with Carlton & United Breweries, are now the focus of a competition probe by the ACCC. Reports say ACCC officials have been conducting industry interviews at various pubs and breweries to gather information about contracts between the brewers and pub, clubs and bars.

According to reports, CUB and Lion control 90 to 95 percent of the nation’s beer taps.

The ACCC reportedly received multiple complaints from craft brewers that their beer was not being served from beer taps in bars and pubs. Regulators declined to elaborate on the details of the investigation, noting its confidentiality.

Full content: The Age

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