Pub-goers will need to take note of a key rule change affecting their locals, in a move branded “disappointing” by industry experts. A popular regulation that allowed customers to buy alcohol to take away will not be renewed on April 1.
This guideline was established to help venues earn extra revenue in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. But the regulations will not be renewed when their time is up come March 31.
As reported by the Liverpool Echo, businesses were first permitted to serve customers through hatches back in 2020 when lockdown rules meant indoor gatherings weren’t allowed. This regulation was extended in 2023, with the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) chief executive Tom Stainer commenting: “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 licence allows them to do so.”
A Government consultation, which ran from May to July 2024, gave three options to maintain this rule on a more long-term basis. The decision not to extend has been met with backlash.
The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) called the choice “incredibly disappointing” with “no evidence that this easement has created any widespread issues.”
A BBPA spokesman said: “On behalf of our members, who account for approximately 20,000 pubs across the UK, we supported options that would have made the temporary easement permanent, so we are incredibly disappointed at the Government’s decision.
“We have seen no evidence that this easement has created any widespread issues since it was introduced. Instead it has helped to boost trade for pubs and therefore the economy as a whole, so this move will layer more cost and administrative burdens on pubs and local authorities.
“We would urge the Prime Minister to reconsider the impact of this move because it will undermine their growth mission and create more red tape.”
Dame Diana Johnson, minister of state for policing, fire and crime prevention, commented: “The previous Government launched a consultation which ran from 16 May 2024 to 11 July 2024, which gave three options to maintain these easements on a more long-term basis.
“These options were to make permanent the alcohol licensing provisions in the BPA, to amend the wording in the Licensing Act 2003 to extend the definition of on-sales so that it includes consumption in a licenced pavement area, or to amend the Licensing Act 2003 to permit on-sales only premises licence holders the right to make off-sales to any area for which there is a pavement licence.
“There were 67 complete responses to this consultation exercise, from licensing authorities, trade organisations and residents’ organisations, as well as members of the public. The majority of these respondents disagreed or strongly disagreed with all three options proposed.
“In light of those responses, the Government does not currently have a basis to proceed with any of the legislative options to maintain the temporary easements for the long-term. As such, the off-sales measure will expire on 31 March 2025 and the Licensing Act 2003 will automatically revert to the pre-Covid position.
“While the Government must accept the results of the consultation exercise conducted under the previous administration, we are disappointed that there was not a consensus in favour of retaining an easement from which many pubs and pubgoers have benefited, and which supports our objectives both to promote the growth of the UK economy, and specifically to support the nation’s pub trade.”