Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has scrapped a popular change to drinking laws in a fresh blow to the UK hospitality industry.
Licensing laws were relaxed in 2020 to allow the sale of takeaway beers, as a lifeline to pubs struggling with the impacts of lockdown during Covid.
However, without an intervention from Starmer, the legislation will expire on March 31.
Allowing the rule change to expire would come as a huge blow to the industry which is facing a £3.4billion tax raid from Rachel Reeves’s Budget.
Pointing to the boost in trade as a result of the change, a British Beer & Pub Association (BPPA) spokesman urged Starmer to U-turn on his position.
The 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.”
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He added: “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.”
Relaxed licensing regulations were introduced as part of the Business and Planning Act 2020, providing a boost to local businesses, bringing in extra revenue, and enabling the public to support local pubs by having a choice to take away their drinks.
The legislation was initially set to be scrapped in 2023, before then Prime Minister Rishi Sunak intervened and extended the rules by 18 months, writing on X: “I've heard the British pub industry loud and clear - takeaway pints are a boost for their businesses and our economy.”
Then-Policing Minister Chris Philp said: “It is vital that we do everything we can to support British pubs. They are a cornerstone of every community and a beating heart in our growing economy.
“The hospitality industry has faced a tough couple of years, and by relaxing this red tape we will give our pubs and bars the support they need to thrive.”
Speaking to The Sun in 2023, drinker Paul Marshall, said: “I can’t see the rationale behind taking away this service.
“If it brings money into the pubs and the economy, I’m all for takeaway pints staying in place.”
Despite a campaign being launched on the issue, a public consultation exercise received just 67 complete responses.
Speaking to The Sun again, Paul Marshall said yesterday: “Of all the issues going on in the world, I can’t believe the Government are bothering with this.”
Labour Policing Minister Diana Johnson has said: “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.
“We therefore want to make it as simple as possible for those pubs who wish to continue making off-sales to secure the licensing permission to do so from their local authorities.”
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Licensing laws were relaxed in 2020 to allow the sale of takeaway beers, as a lifeline to pubs struggling with the impacts of lockdown during Covid.
However, without an intervention from Starmer, the legislation will expire on March 31.
Allowing the rule change to expire would come as a huge blow to the industry which is facing a £3.4billion tax raid from Rachel Reeves’s Budget.
Pointing to the boost in trade as a result of the change, a British Beer & Pub Association (BPPA) spokesman urged Starmer to U-turn on his position.
The 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.”
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He added: “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.”
Relaxed licensing regulations were introduced as part of the Business and Planning Act 2020, providing a boost to local businesses, bringing in extra revenue, and enabling the public to support local pubs by having a choice to take away their drinks.
The legislation was initially set to be scrapped in 2023, before then Prime Minister Rishi Sunak intervened and extended the rules by 18 months, writing on X: “I've heard the British pub industry loud and clear - takeaway pints are a boost for their businesses and our economy.”
Then-Policing Minister Chris Philp said: “It is vital that we do everything we can to support British pubs. They are a cornerstone of every community and a beating heart in our growing economy.
“The hospitality industry has faced a tough couple of years, and by relaxing this red tape we will give our pubs and bars the support they need to thrive.”
Speaking to The Sun in 2023, drinker Paul Marshall, said: “I can’t see the rationale behind taking away this service.
“If it brings money into the pubs and the economy, I’m all for takeaway pints staying in place.”
Despite a campaign being launched on the issue, a public consultation exercise received just 67 complete responses.
Speaking to The Sun again, Paul Marshall said yesterday: “Of all the issues going on in the world, I can’t believe the Government are bothering with this.”
Labour Policing Minister Diana Johnson has said: “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.
“We therefore want to make it as simple as possible for those pubs who wish to continue making off-sales to secure the licensing permission to do so from their local authorities.”
Find Out More...