Next month the pub law will be changed as takeaway beer rules are lifted

This comes as the government in England and Wales allowed landlords to serve takeaway pints to customers on the street through hatches when they were forced to close their premises during the coronavirus pandemic.

However, the licensing system, which the Interior Ministry introduced in July 2020, will expire next month with no plan for an extension, the reports BBC.

The government allowed takeaway pints to be sold in street pubs without a license in 2020 (Image: Getty)

Takeaway pint rules introduced by the government during the pandemic are set to be scrapped

The regime had already been extended twice Pandemic But after the deadline this time, venues wishing to continue serving pints to go will need to apply for approval from their local councils.

The British Beer and Pub Association recently told the BBC that the “disappointing” decision would force pubs to go through “lengthy application and approval processes” if they wished to continue selling out pints.

Managing Director Emma McClarkin continued: “We need government to support our pubs and enable them to diversify and innovate, not hold them back with more bureaucracy and unnecessary regulation.”

“We need the government that commits to no more tariff hikes so our breweries and pubs don’t incur any more costs.”

CEO of the British Beer & Pub Association @EmmaMcClarkin talks about alcohol tax reformhttps://t.co/iwN3JSr8Xp

📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube pic.twitter.com/jJkmrPAZ90

— Sky News (@SkyNews) August 1, 2023

The rules apply from 2020 pubs could offer drinks on the street where they have a license to set up tables and chairs without needing a permit.

But now places with an on-site license need to change their current license.

Public has opted to return to pre-pandemic rules, government says

The BBC added: “Official planning documents estimate that between 8,500 and 12,800 such buildings could opt for this, although the government says there is a lack of ‘firm’ data on potential demand.”

When the Home Office justified the decision not to renew the licensing system again, it said it had “sought the opinion” of local councils, community groups and beverage retailers.

📈Over the last year, the average cost has increased by 24%, but beer prices have only increased by 12%.

🍺Pubs and breweries have sacrificed everything to keep their beer affordable despite immense inflationary pressures.

💥 That’s why we can no longer afford tax increases. pic.twitter.com/GbiuQS0pO4

— British Beer & Pub Association (@beerandpub) August 3, 2023

It turned out that the “majority” of respondents supported a return to pre-pandemic regulations.

Industry body UKHospitality also told the broadcaster that the “handy” relaxation of rules in the coronavirus era has helped some businesses boost sales.

Managing Director Kate Nicholls said: “This decision will raise questions from hospitality businesses about how serious the government is about reducing the administrative burden on businesses.”