Block Heineken’s bid for Punch Taverns – it’s a bad deal for Britain’s consumers

Rejected 12 signatures

What the petition asks

Heineken’s takeover of Punch is bad for British consumers, landlords and the drinks industry. Our pubs are unique and need protecting. This deal will allow a Dutch firm to ruin over 3,000 local community pubs in the UK by seriously limiting landlords’ freedom to stock products their customers want.

Heineken compare pubs to coffee shops: “Nobody expects a Costa Coffee outlet to be permitted to sell Starbucks coffee.” British consumers are not puppets – we want the freedom to choose our favourite pints.

Heineken has twice been convicted of price-fixing cartel behaviour (’04,’07) and admitted to passing off its own beers as local craft beers (’16). Punch’s publicans are small business owners at the heart of our communities. They need our protection.

Why it was rejected

It asked for something that is not the responsibility of the UK Government or Parliament.

The Government and Parliament don’t have the power to take this action.

The Competition and Markets Authority (which is independent) works to promote competition for the benefit of consumers, both within and outside the UK. Its aim is to make markets work well for consumers, businesses and the economy. You can draw issues to the attention of the CMA here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/competition-and-markets-authority/about#notify-us-of-issues

Timeline

3 Jan 2017	Petition opened for signatures
11 Jan 2017	Rejected by the Petitions Committee

Key facts

Signatures 12

Status Rejected

Rejected 11 Jan 2017

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