Tied Houses Abolition Act

More fun from the Brewers' Journal today. Which I've been using a lot as a source recently. Mostly, because that's what I've been researching in this week. And I need loads of posts to cover my next couple of trips. I should be in Norway when this is posted.

Tied houses have always been somewhat contentious. Obviously, the temperance twats were against tied houses. Well, just because. They were opposed to everything connected to pubs.

Mr. Broadhurst seemed to have an aversion to tied houses, too. Judging by the Bill he initiated. It's not the easiest of reads, despite being quite short.

Mr. Broadhurst and Tied Houses.
The following is a copy of the Bill introduced by Mr-Broadhurst, and read a first time in the House of Commons on the 3rd inst.:—Whereas the practice of tying licensed houses is injurious to the public, and it is expedient that it should be abolished. Now, therefore, be it enacted:—

1. From and after the passing of this Act any covenant or agreement binding the holder of a licence of ale, beer, or spirituous liquors for consumption on the premises to purchase such ale, beer, or spirituous liquors, or any part thereof, from any specified person or persons only shall be deemed to be an unreasonable covenant in restraint of trade, and shall be void. Provided always that this section shall not apply to any licence granted before the passing of this Act unless and until application shall be made for a renewal thereof.

2. Upon any application for the grant or renewal of a licence for the sale of ale, beer, or spirituous liquors to be consumed on the premises, the licensing authorities shall require the applicant to satisfy them that he is not under any such covenant or agreement as aforesaid; and in the case of an application for the renewal of a licence that has been granted or renewed subsequently to the passing of this Act that he has not been under any such covenant since the granting or last renewal of the licence, as the case may be, and unless the said licensing authority is so satisfied, it shall not grant or renew such licence.

3. This Act may be called the Tied Houses Abolition Act.
The Brewers' Journal vol. 36 1900, August 15th 1900, page 456.

If you were tied for any alcoholic drink, your licence wouldn't be renewed. And without its licence, a pub was worth fuck all. Not much use for a brewer, either.

Of course, the Bill didn't pass. Private members' Bills almost never do. If passed, how would it have affected UK brewing? Would brewers have simply found some other way of securing outlets? They might have concentrated on off-licences. Which were oftebn tied, too. Weirdly, the Bill doesn't seem to apply to them. Only on-licences.