Beer and pub leaders push for reopening date as sales fall 56%

BBPA urges Government to indicate reopen date for pubs in new timetable to boost sector

The call comes as it emerged earlier today that barriers to trade and lock-outs will cause beer sales to plunge 56 per cent to £7.8billion by 2020.

In the second quarter of 2020 alone, which witnessed the initial closure of the Covid-19, pub pub beer sales fell 96 per cent.

Reflecting the gravity of the effect trade restriction and lockouts had on the sector, the BBPA and leading industry figures from the beer and pub industry published a recovery roadmap to reopen pubs completely according to the current lock-out.

The roadmap stipulates that after vaccination the most vulnerable must have pubs reopened when non-essential shops and accommodation industries reopen.

It also says that compulsory trade restrictions, such as alcohol, provided they're served with a proper meal, that families are not mixed, that the 10 p.m. curfew has to be lifted if pubs reopen on time.

She says extending the VAT cut and a reduction in business rates, and a significant reduction in beer duty, are vital to help pubs re-establish profitability and rebound by 2020.

Although there are fewer restrictions in the third quarter 2020, a temporary reduction in VAT to the grocery and soft drinks sectors, and the Eat Out to Help Out programme, beer sales in pubs still decreased by 27% in the quarter.