- Criticism Over Government’s Pub Support Withdrawal
- End of “Pints to Go” Amid Pub Industry Concerns
- Discontent Over Alcohol Duty Reforms and Heckling of Prime Minister
The British Beer and Pub Association criticizes the government’s refusal to extend measures initially implemented to assist struggling pubs during the COVID pandemic.
The government will leave epidemic regulations to expire next month, banning pubs from selling pints to go.
In 2020, takeout alcohol was offered to help businesses during COVID-19 lockdowns and other safety measures.
When closing, establishments with on-site alcohol licences supplied several beers through hatches to make extra money.
The British Beer and Pub Association has called this decision “disappointing”
When the current laws expire on 30 September, pubs that want to offer alcohol for takeaway will need municipal approval.
The Home Office stated that councils, retailers of alcoholic beverages, and resident organizations preferred a return to pre-COVID regulations.
However, industry groups representing taverns and landlords stated that the decision would increase “unnecessary regulation” with no assurance that councils will approve applications for individual license changes.
Last week, the teetotal Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was heckled at the Great British Beer Festival in London for claiming that alcohol duty reforms are “supporting British pubs.
His visit occurred on the day that alcohol taxes were raised.
A new system that taxes all alcoholic beverages by potency has raised their prices.
A publican who heckled Mr. Sunak criticized the Conservative leader’s “audacity” for attending the festival.
Rudi Keyser, proprietor of a pub in Wimbledon, remarked, “The number of breweries that have closed in the past year has been astounding”.
They are substantially increasing alcohol taxes across the board.
“And he dares to come to pull a pint for PR.”
