Landlords should be freed from the ties which oblige them to buy from so-called pubcos, one industry body has stated.
In which might be of interest to pub insurance customers, research by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) shows that 94 per cent of the group's pub trade members feels such contracts should be scrapped.
Clive Davenport, FSB national trade and industry chairman, said: "Pub landlords often pay up to double the price for beer and cider, than they would if they were buying in a free market."
Removing these ties will help create a level playing field which will allow all landlords to compete with each other fairly, he added.
It might interest pub insurance customers to know that Mr Davenport believes public houses are a vital part of local communities.
Recently, the British Beer and Pub Association stated that the £4 pint is set to become a common site in hostelries across the land.
According to the body, this is due to increased production costs.
