Regarding your article about a pink "tax" in gay bars (The Argus, August 5), if you had done more research you would have known some bars are governed by the price they pay per barrel.

Others are making huge profits but just keeping their prices slightly cheaper. Then there are the few who are tied by Pubcos fixed price.

These bars have fitted a device called Brulines that measures every pint dispensed over the bar and sends a signal back to head office so they know if you try to put a cheaper barrel out of tie.

Bars supplied by Pubcos also pay twice as much for cases of beer compared to others. These have special labels or tops on them and come specially packed in marked boxes so you cannot even buy these out of tie.

We also have to work to a mark-up recommended by HM Inspector of Taxes that they wish us to make a GP of 50 per cent which some of us do not quite reach.

-Steve, Marine Tavern, and David and Andy, Queens Arms