Pubs in England and Wales will be allowed to continue selling takeaway pints after the government decided to keep pandemic-era licensing rules after criticism from an industry body.
The pandemic-era rules were due to expire in September after being extended twice, in a move the British Beer and Pub Association called “disappointing”.
But the government has decided to extend the rules for another 18 months in what it said was “a move to cut red tape and back British pubs”.
Pubs were given the option to sell takeaway alcohol in July 2020 without having to apply to their local councils for permission, as part of a wider effort to limit the spread of coronavirus. Landlords were able to sell alcohol, sometimes through hatches, in order to keep their businesses afloat during lockdowns.
Rishi Sunak said he was determined to back British pubs and provide “the support they need after weathering the storm of the pandemic as we grow our economy”.
“That’s why we’re cutting unnecessary red tape so that customers can enjoy a takeaway pint or alfresco drink without businesses facing extra burdens,” he added.
It means pubs and bars will not need to make a separate application to local councils for the extra licence needed for off-site sales.
The British Beer and Pub Association said the relaxed rules enabled pubs to operate without “unnecessary regulation”. Emma McClarkin, the group’s chief executive, said: “This simple change has allowed pubs to offer takeaway options and host a greater range of events for their communities in recent years.”
One year after the rules were introduced, nearly 10,000 licensed premises had permanently closed and the sector lost more than £87bn in sales as a result of the pandemic, according to UK Hospitality.
The rules came into effect in 2020 as pavement licences were made permanent to allow more customers to eat outside, under the first ever hospitality strategy to support the reopening and resilience of the sector.
The latest intervention comes after Sunak was heckled during a visit to a beer festival where he was seeking to promote a shakeup of the alcohol duty regime that will increase tax on a range of drinks.
He has insisted that the reforms centre on “backing British pubs” and that businesses and consumers will benefit, despite the increases on wine, vodka and canned beer.
