The Government has been reviewing beer market access to consider whether there are any structural barriers preventing small breweries from accessing pubs. As part of this work, Ministers have met with stakeholders from across the sector to consider the evidence submitted. The issues raised are complex, and the Government is carefully assessing all relevant evidence, alongside advice from competition policy experts, before determining next steps.

The Government recognises the sector's interest in the outcome of this review. While I am unable to provide a publication date at this stage, the Government will announce its conclusions and any next steps in due course.

The Government has been reviewing beer market access to consider whether there are any structural barriers preventing small breweries from accessing pubs. As part of this work, Ministers have met with stakeholders from across the sector to consider the evidence submitted. The issues raised are complex, and the Government is carefully assessing all relevant evidence, alongside advice from competition policy experts, before determining next steps.

The Government recognises the sector's interest in the outcome of this review. While I am unable to provide a publication date at this stage, the Government will announce its conclusions and any next steps in due course.

The Department has considered the design of similar schemes in European countries as pEPR has been developed in the UK. However, direct comparisons of fee levels can be misleading because schemes differ in scope, in how drinks containers are treated, and how waste management costs are reflected.

In the UK, fees are calculated to reflect the real costs faced by local authorities. The methodology uses weight and estimated packaging volume, alongside other costs associated with collection, treatment and disposal.

PackUK plan to launch a Call for Evidence this year to inform future approaches to fee modulation.

The Government published an updated assessment in October 2024 of the impact of introducing Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging. This assessed impacts on packaging producers as a whole but did not assess impacts on individual products such as bottles of beer or individual sectors such as brewing.

The assessment estimated that the impact of Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging on overall inflation would be small, with a central estimate of around 0.07% on CPI.

Pricing decisions are for individual producers and retailers. The Department continues to engage with the brewing, hospitality and wider packaging sectors as the scheme is implemented.

Our waste collection systems are completely different from those in Germany and France, where they have a wide network of bring banks for glass. We have the privilege of having glass collected in our household waste collection schemes. I am conscious of the dual burden that is falling on pubs, and I have tasked my officials with working at pace on the issue to find a solution for the pubs that we are all enjoying in this hot weather, with the great football. I wish England the best for their match at the weekend.

Last week, this House debated extended producer responsibility, and I was pleased to grill the Minister on the impact it is having on brewers, such as Asahi in Woking. Will the Minister explain why EPR costs so much more in this country than in Europe, and agree to publish the results of the Government’s pilot projects in councils such as Fife?

As set out in the answer of 8 June 2026 to Question 5064, the department continues to consider evidence on beer market access as part of a broader and ongoing process. Given the complexity of the issues involved, including the need to balance the interests of pub‑owning businesses, tenants and consumers, Ministers are carefully assessing the available evidence before setting out further conclusions.

Further updates will be provided in due course.

As set out in the answer of 8 June 2026 to Question 5064, the department continues to consider evidence on beer market access as part of a broader and ongoing process. Given the complexity of the issues involved, including the need to balance the interests of pub‑owning businesses, tenants and consumers, Ministers are carefully assessing the available evidence before setting out further conclusions.

Further updates will be provided in due course.

The Government is currently undertaking a statutory review of the Pubs Code, alongside a Post-Implementation Review, to assess how the Code has operated and its impact since its introduction in 2016.

In parallel, we are carefully considering the evidence gathered through the beer market access review, including on guest beer agreements and wider access to market issues.

I have met with stakeholders from across the brewing and pub sector, including independent brewers and pub-owning businesses, to hear a wide range of views on tied arrangements, routes to consumers and fair access to market.

These are complex issues and we will ensure all evidence is fully considered before setting out further conclusions in due course.

The British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme is targeted at sectors where it will have the greatest impact on growth, focusing on Industrial Strategy priority sectors, manufacturing activities that are mobile and exposed to international competition, and those with high electricity intensity.

Eligibility will be determined using Standard Industrial Classification codes to assess whether a business operates in an eligible sector that meets the required threshold of electricity intensity, and Harmonised System codes to assess whether it manufactures eligible products.

The Government has not made a specific assessment of brewing as an eligible activity; eligibility depends on whether activities meet the published criteria.

The British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme is targeted at sectors where it will have the greatest impact on growth, focusing on Industrial Strategy priority sectors, manufacturing activities that are mobile and exposed to international competition, and those with high electricity intensity.

Eligibility will be determined using Standard Industrial Classification codes to assess whether a business operates in an eligible sector that meets the required threshold of electricity intensity, and Harmonised System codes to assess whether it manufactures eligible products.

The Government has not made a specific assessment of brewing as an eligible activity; eligibility depends on whether activities meet the published criteria.

The Government does not currently recognise brewing as an energy-intensive industry for the purposes of eligibility for the British Industry Supercharger. The Supercharger supports businesses by relieving them of certain electricity policy and network costs. The list of eligible sectors is based on European Commission guidelines, since eligibility was established when the UK was an EU Member State. The scheme currently targets businesses in sectors like steel and chemicals who are at the highest risk of carbon leakage and who meet specific trade and electricity intensity thresholds.

The Government intends to review the scheme this year and interested stakeholders can engage with the associated public consultation. Any amendments to the policy are subject to ministerial and UK Parliament approval.

The Government does not currently recognise brewing as an energy-intensive industry for the purposes of eligibility for the British Industry Supercharger. The Supercharger supports businesses by relieving them of certain electricity policy and network costs. The list of eligible sectors is based on European Commission guidelines, since eligibility was established when the UK was an EU Member State. The scheme currently targets businesses in sectors like steel and chemicals who are at the highest risk of carbon leakage and who meet specific trade and electricity intensity thresholds.

The Government intends to review the scheme this year and interested stakeholders can engage with the associated public consultation. Any amendments to the policy are subject to ministerial and UK Parliament approval.

Government recognises the importance of a diverse and competitive beer market, including the role of independent breweries in supporting local economies and consumer choice. We have conducted a review of the beer market to determine whether there are any structural barriers preventing small breweries from accessing pubs. Its findings are currently being reviewed alongside hearing evidence directly from industry stakeholders and representative bodies with whom I am meeting over the next months. This includes meeting with small brewery owners and representatives from the Society of Independent Brewers.

Separate to the beer market review, the Government is currently conducting a statutory review into the operation of the Pubs Code and the performance of the Pubs Code Adjudicator. Alongside this statutory review, the Government is also conducting a Post Implementation Review (PIR) which will consider the Pub Code’s impact since it was introduced in 2016. I will be announcing the outcome of the review in due course.

The Government recognises the pressures that high energy costs can place on independent breweries. We engage regularly with colleagues across Government on measures to support businesses, and we keep the impact of energy prices under close review.

The Energy Secretary, Ed Miliband, and the interim CEO of Ofgem, Tim Jarvis, have written to business energy suppliers setting clear expectations that customers, particularly small businesses such as independent breweries, must be treated fairly. The letter makes clear that any unfair practices will not be tolerated, and that suppliers should take a fair and supportive approach, offering maximum flexibility and transparency for small business customers.

The Government also plans to legislate on Third Party Intermediaries, including energy brokers, through the forthcoming Energy Independence Bill to strengthen protections for SMEs, including independent breweries, when they engage in the business energy market.

The Government fully recognises the importance of independent breweries and pubs. We are committed to maintaining a beer and pub sector that is diverse, competitive and rooted in local communities, supporting jobs, investment and growth across towns and villages.

We have conducted a review of the beer market to determine whether there are any structural barriers preventing small breweries from accessing pubs, I am currently considering the findings of this review alongside hearing evidence directly from industry stakeholders and representative bodies with whom I am meeting over the next month. This includes meeting with small brewery owners and representatives from the Society of Independent Brewers.

Additionally, Small Producer Relief (SPR) supports smaller producers by allowing those producing up to 4,500 hectolitres a year to pay reduced duty on products below 8.5% ABV. At Budget 2025, the Government increased the cash discount for small producers, maintaining the value of SPR relative to main duty rates.