Drinkers who believe their club or pub hasn't passed on the reduction in the excise on beer should call the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, ACCC Chairman, Professor Allan Fels, urged today.
"Beer prices over the bar should have fallen following the excise reduction on draft beer from 4 April 2001.
"The ACCC conducted an extensive national survey last week which showed that up to 55 per cent of clubs and pubs hadn't passed on the reduction.
"Whilst there may have been some stock overhang immediately after the excise reduction, and some stock build-up for Easter, the ACCC believes most clubs and pubs should have cleared the higher excise product by now.
"Clubs or pubs pocketing the excise reduction risk $10 million in penalties per offence for price exploitation," he warned.
"Further, the ACCC will examine if there has been collusion between pubs and clubs in the locale to hold up prices.
"The ACCC is already checking clubs and pubs it found to have had higher than expected prices to see if there has been a shift in pricing. Some of these clubs and pubs were reported on in the Daily Telegraph today.
"However, the ACCC surveys are national - not just NSW-based. It will conduct a further two surveys over the next month. These are in addition to the ongoing surveys the ACCC has been conducting to ensure that prices have not changed unreasonably due to the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax.
"Drinkers who haven't seen a shift downwards on the price - or who have seen a rise - should call the ACCC complaints telephone line 1300 302 502.
"These complaints will be followed up by ACCC staff". The industry vigorously campaigned for the reductions in excise: it is now up to it to pass on the reductions to the public immediately.