Let beleaguered pubs trade as off-licences, urges CAMRA

With a ban on takeaway alcohol sales imposed on the English hospitality sector, CAMRA is urging the government to save pubs by letting them trade as off-licences.

Village pub in Winchester

CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, has launched a bid to give struggling pubs some much needed money through the tills by allowing them to be able to sell beer and cider in sealed containers for people to take away and enjoy at home. 

The lockdown rules mean that whilst shops can continue to sell alcohol to take away, pubs can only do so via home delivery and not through a collection service as in previous lockdowns. 

The campaign was raised in the House of Commons during yesterday’s emergency debate on the new lockdown restrictions in England, with MP for Stroud Siobhan Baillie asking the Government to look at the rules on the sale of takeaway alcohol as “it is not fair to stop this activity when supermarkets and off-licences can sell regardless”. 

Commenting, CAMRA’s national chairman Nik Antona said: “It is absolutely unfair that whilst big supermarkets can continue to sell alcohol, our struggling local pubs in England can’t act as an off licence too. 

“This was a real lifeline for many pubs during previous lockdowns and is desperately needed again now, with landlords up and down the country struggling to make ends meet after months of closures, curfews and restrictions. Pubs are also the only place where people can get cask beer which is under threat due to months of forced pub closures, with some breweries stopping production. 

“The least the Government can do is take a sensible approach, think again and allow community pubs to sell takeaway products. No-one wants to see drinking in the streets during a lockdown – but allowing pubs to sell alcohol in sealed containers for people to take home – just like shops do – would be completely reasonable. 

“Without a change in these lockdown laws we risk seeing more locals going to the wall, traditional British cask ale under threat and people being forced into supermarkets instead of being allowed to support local businesses by buying beer from the pub to take home.” 

According to CAMRA, over six thousand pub-goers have already flooded MPs’ inboxes to seek fair treatment for pubs and to protect cask beer during the third lockdown in England. 

Db is also keen to know why the Government deems it acceptable for people to congregate outside a coffee shop with hot drinks but not near a pub with a pint – an unlikely scenario in any case considering the freezing temperatures in Britain at the moment.

As db reported yesterday, the ban on takeaway and click-and-collect alcohol sales from hospitality outlets in England will have a “brutal effect” on the on-trade.

Speaking to the drinks business, Alun Thomas, partner at London-based law firm Thomas & Thomas, said it was just another “kick in the shin for the on-trade”.

“The brutal effect of it is that is there’s less of a reason for those pubs that are staying open and not furloughing people to carry on doing takeaway,” he said. “Alcohol carries a higher gross profit than food alone.”

Read more

ENGLISH ON-TRADE TAKEAWAY ALCOHOL BAN ‘BRUTAL’

TAKEAWAY ALCOHOL SALES BANNED IN ENGLAND

Leave your reply

Most Recent Stories

Spending on drinks and restaurants in the UK has shot up 57% since 2020

Brits continue to spend big in restaurants and bars despite higher costs, according to research by UK digital payment provider takepayments.

Five of London's best Irish pubs

Irish pubs are for all year round, not just St. Patrick's Day. WLC rounds up five of London's best.

WLC recommends: Sessions Arts Club, Clerkenwell

Douglas Blyde heads to Clerkenwell to visit chef Florence Knight's Sessions Arts Club. There, he finds food to match the captivating interior, and a largely Italian wine list from head of wine Molly Pepper Steemson that focuses on "less breadth, more depth". Taken from the 2022 Wine List Confidential guide.

Developers ordered to rebuild pub after demolishing it

The developers behind the illegal demolition of Lancashire's Punch Bowl Inn two years ago have been ordered by a court to rebuild the historic pub brick by brick.

Martell announces Alexandre Mazzia collaboration

Cognac brand Martell, part of the Pernod Ricard portfolio, has announced a four year collaboration with Alexandre Mazzia, chef at the three-Michelin-starred AM in Marseille.

Most Recent Stories

Spending on drinks and restaurants in the UK has shot up 57% since 2020

Brits continue to spend big in restaurants and bars despite higher costs, according to research by UK digital payment provider takepayments.

Five of London's best Irish pubs

Irish pubs are for all year round, not just St. Patrick's Day. WLC rounds up five of London's best.

WLC recommends: Sessions Arts Club, Clerkenwell

Douglas Blyde heads to Clerkenwell to visit chef Florence Knight's Sessions Arts Club. There, he finds food to match the captivating interior, and a largely Italian wine list from head of wine Molly Pepper Steemson that focuses on "less breadth, more depth". Taken from the 2022 Wine List Confidential guide.

Developers ordered to rebuild pub after demolishing it

The developers behind the illegal demolition of Lancashire's Punch Bowl Inn two years ago have been ordered by a court to rebuild the historic pub brick by brick.

Martell announces Alexandre Mazzia collaboration

Cognac brand Martell, part of the Pernod Ricard portfolio, has announced a four year collaboration with Alexandre Mazzia, chef at the three-Michelin-starred AM in Marseille.