BBPA calls for greater clarity on Covid certification

The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has called for long-term clarity on the situation regarding the possible introduce of compulsory Covid status certificates for hospitality venues.

It follows comments by a Whitehall source to The Guardian earlier this week which suggest government measures to introduce compulsory Covid status certificates would focus on “higher-risk setting that are no open and big events”, rather than smaller venues like pubs.

Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove’s review is understood to prioritise Covid certification measures for larger events in places such as theatres, music venues or sports arenas.

Gove submitted a written statement to the House of Commons yesterday (29 April), in which he updated parliament on the progress of the review, and stated that the government could trial Covid-status certification “in certain settings, including large events”, alongside trials of a range of other safety measures. “The government will continue to work closely with sectors on its approach,” he added.

Emma McClarkin, chief executive, BBPA, said: “This empty statement gives our sector no long-term clarity on whether it will be affected by COVID-status certificates or not.

“If the Government is not looking to impose COVID-status certification on pubs, then it should simply come forward and rule them out now. Publicans have already faced enough stress and uncertainty as it is without having to worry about these unnecessary and unworkable passports.”