Takeaway pints decision termed ‘welcome dose of common sense’

Trade bodies have responded positively to the reversal of the decision to discontinue takeaway pints, with UKHospitality calling the measure ‘a welcome dose of common sense.’

Pubs and bars will be allowed to continue selling takeaway drinks after the government decided against discontinuing Covid measures.

UKHospitality had called for the measures to be made permanent to benefit the economy and businesses as well as local communities.

According to the trade body, the Prime Minister’s personal intervention has been widely welcomed and is evidence of the Government’s commitment to deregulation following the initial decision, which was met with widespread disappointment by the sector.

UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls said: “This is a very welcome intervention by the Prime Minister in response to representations from UKHospitality and the sector more widely.

“Many businesses benefitted for the first time from pavement licences and created new outdoor areas but, for some, the use of them was only allowed by a corresponding temporary permission for takeaway sales or al fresco dining.

“The government was originally proposing to extend the former but not the latter and this would have tied up many more restaurants, bars and pubs in red tape; requiring an application for some to continue using their outside spaces.

“This is a welcome dose of common sense. As the Prime Minister rightly says, now is not the time to tie these businesses up in additional bureaucracy and cost just as they continue their recovery from the pandemic. We very much appreciate his personal intervention and ongoing support.”

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) further called on the government to relax tax rules around draught takeaway sales.

CAMRA chief executive Tom Stainer said: “It’s a good sign that the Government has listened and decided to backtrack on their plans to end the automatic permission for pubs to make off-sales. We hope that they have also been listening very carefully to the trade and consumers, who are also calling for a relaxation of the new tax rules around draught takeaway sales, which restrict many publicans from selling takeaway beer and cider regardless of whether their license allows them to do so. This is because the new rules force them to buy separate containers of draught beers and ciders, with a higher rate of duty paid on them if they want to sell them for takeaway. We are hopeful that the Government will remove these unnecessary restrictions soon.”