Competition minister Melanie Johnson has announced that the Beer Orders will soon be revoked.

The Beer Orders were introduced over ten years ago to limited the number of tied pubs that each of the major brewers could own.

Johnson said: "The former situation where brewers were able to prevent proper competition between pubs and restrict consumer choice has changed radically. The beer orders have served their purpose. It is time to remove them from the statute book."

Forum Response: British Beer and Pub Association

Mark Hastings, communications director at the British Beer and Pub Association, told ePolitix.com: "The demise of the Beer Orders shows that, when it comes to ordering beer, consumers are getting great value.

"The government clearly recognises that Britain's beer and pub sector is an intensely competitive market driven by consumer demand and where the customer is truly king."