The Netherlands’ café and bar owners are calling for a reduction in beer prices, following the record fines levied on the country’s big brewers for price-fixing.

‘The European Commission fines show that owners have paid too much,’ said Jeu Claes of catering sector lobby KHN. KHN is considering putting in a compensation claim of at least €100m to make up for the overcharging, he said.
The three biggest Dutch beer groups – Heineken, Grolsch and Bavaria – were fined a total of €274m for price-fixing between 1996 and 1999. Grolsch and Bavaria said immediately they would appeal.