Pubs and restaurants can deliver alcohol but not offer it with takeaways, government confirms
Venues are being forced to close when new lockdown measures come in on Thursday.
A ban on hospitality venues offering alcohol with takeaway services during lockdown is to “discourage people from gathering outside their premises”, the government has said.
Discussions have been taking place between industry bodies and ministers to overturn the move, dubbed as unfair towards traders when booze remains available for purchase elsewhere.
It has been confirmed, however, that pubs and restaurants will be allowed to offer alcohol with their delivery services.
Under new rules from Thursday (5 November) venues will be forced to close as England enters a second national lockdown, but they can still provide takeaway and delivery services.
Chair of the British Institute of Innkeeping, Mark Robson, has labelled the ban on takeaway alcohol “a pretty stupid decision given that you can just buy alcohol from grocery stores or supermarkets”.
Mark, who also runs 10 pubs across Surrey and Hampshire, added: “All the pubs up and down the country that’ll be closing are closing with lots of stock in their cellars, so it’s another sort of hammer blow that we don’t need.
“We’re really hoping that government will come to their senses and reverse that rather ludicrous decision.”
Meanwhile Chief Executive of the Society of Independent Brewers, James Calder, added: “Takeaway beer was, and is a vital cashflow lifeline for brewers and publicans.
“We need to see a return to the regulations which were in place during the first lockdown; whereby pubs could sell takeaway beer to consumers, independent bottle shops and brewery shops are classed as essential retail and that independent breweries can continue to offer delivery and click and collect from the brewery gate throughout November."
A government spokesperson said: “Public health and safety remains our number one priority.
“Pubs and other hospitality venues cannot serve alcohol to takeaway to discourage people from gathering outside their premises, but they can sell alcohol as part of delivery services.
“We recognise these are extremely challenging circumstances facing pubs and the hospitality industry.”