87m pints of beer wasted in UK since Covid restrictions began

As many as 87 million pints of beer have been poured away since Covid-19 restrictions on hospitality began in the UK, according to the BBPA.

UK Government restrictions on the hospitality sector, ranging from banning household mixing to shuttering outlets altogether, has resulted in as many as 87m pints going down the drain

The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has today revealed that up to 87 million pints of beer could have been wasted since the Coronavirus pandemic started, costing the beer and pub sector £331 million.

At an average cost per pint of £3.81 in a pub, it means pubs have lost £331 million in revenue on beer that they have been forced to destroy as they could not sell it because of the three lockdowns and tier restrictions (1).

The trade association says this is revenue that would usually pay for hundreds of thousands of jobs in pubs and breweries across the UK, as well as the maintenance and upkeep of pubs in communities across the UK.

It is urging the Government, and Chancellor Rishi Sunak, to continue providing support to the sector in the coming months if pubs continue to stay closed.

With a Budget expected in March, it is urging the Chancellor to extend the VAT cut for hospitality and Business Rates holiday, as well as cut beer duty for when pubs reopen.

BBPA chief executive, Emma McClarkin, said, “Our sector is in limbo; and at several points in the last 12 months pubs and breweries have effectively had to pour their revenues down the drain.

“We have no idea or clarity from Government on when we can re-open again. What we do know is if we cannot reopen in the near future, without further Government grant support and extensions to the job retention scheme, pubs and brewers will no longer have the cash left to survive and a wave of closures will be inevitable with jobs lost.

“Even when they can reopen, pubs and brewers are still likely to need Government support to help them kick-start their businesses again.”

“With a Budget coming up in March, we are urging the Chancellor to continue to support our sector in what we hope are the final months of this crisis.

“If pubs remain closed beyond March, further grants need to be delivered to them and brewers. Without this, neither pubs or brewers will be around to brew and serve beer when we can reopen.

“Stimulus support is also going to be essential for our sector to kick-start again and lead the economic recovery. The VAT cut for hospitality, whilst welcome, has not been used as the sector has been closed. It must be extended. Likewise, the Business Rates holiday must be extended as pubs do not have the cash to pay it now because they have been closed.

“£1 in every £3 spent in a pub goes to the taxman because of excessively high beer duty. We pay 11 times more beer duty than Germany or Spain. Having been closed or facing restrictions for the best part of a year, now is not the time to be punishing pubs and brewers with the excessive beer duty we pay in the UK. The Chancellor must listen to the 490,000 people who have signed the Long Live the Local petition and cut beer duty in his budget to protect pubs and jobs (1).”

  1. CGA average on-trade price of a pint from 2019
  2. Long Live The Local is the consumer campaign calling on the Government to cut beer duty to help pubs with the excessive tax burden they face

Leave your reply

Most Recent Stories

Unfiltered: James Snowdon

The Edinburgh native and former manager of Fulham’s Harwood Arms co-founded the ultra-popular Edinburgh brasserie with Australian-born Lloyd Morse, previously of Spring. He talks to Douglas Blyde about storing wines and stealing naps in the vault of this former bank, mind-blowing coffee, and “floating about on a cloud of charisma”…

Three in four Brits will head to the pub for the Coronation

Record numbers of pints are predicted to be sold over the Coronation weekend taking place on 6-8 May, with 75% of Brits planning to celebrate the crowning of the new King by heading to the pub.

'Britain's wonkiest pub' is looking for a new owner

If you're a long time admirer of both the Leaning Tower of Pisa and beer, an exciting opportunity has just arisen to bag yourself a lopsided slice of history.

WLC Eats: Caia, Notting Hill

Louis Thomas finds creative twists on crowd-pleasing dishes and a reliable by-the-glass offering at Caia in Notting Hill.

Lanson pairs Noble with Hide tasting menu

With the help of its chef ambassador Ollie Dabbous, Lanson is expanding the on-trade listings for its prestige line Noble 2004, made in Brut and Blanc de Blancs styles, in a series of gastronomic dinners for Champagne enthusiasts.

Most Recent Stories

Unfiltered: James Snowdon

The Edinburgh native and former manager of Fulham’s Harwood Arms co-founded the ultra-popular Edinburgh brasserie with Australian-born Lloyd Morse, previously of Spring. He talks to Douglas Blyde about storing wines and stealing naps in the vault of this former bank, mind-blowing coffee, and “floating about on a cloud of charisma”…

Three in four Brits will head to the pub for the Coronation

Record numbers of pints are predicted to be sold over the Coronation weekend taking place on 6-8 May, with 75% of Brits planning to celebrate the crowning of the new King by heading to the pub.

'Britain's wonkiest pub' is looking for a new owner

If you're a long time admirer of both the Leaning Tower of Pisa and beer, an exciting opportunity has just arisen to bag yourself a lopsided slice of history.

WLC Eats: Caia, Notting Hill

Louis Thomas finds creative twists on crowd-pleasing dishes and a reliable by-the-glass offering at Caia in Notting Hill.

Lanson pairs Noble with Hide tasting menu

With the help of its chef ambassador Ollie Dabbous, Lanson is expanding the on-trade listings for its prestige line Noble 2004, made in Brut and Blanc de Blancs styles, in a series of gastronomic dinners for Champagne enthusiasts.