Fresh blow to Britain’s pubs as Keir Starmer AXES popular change to drinking laws
TAKEAWAY pints made popular during the pandemic will be banned despite a pubs backlash.
Licensing laws were relaxed in lockdowns to allow the sale of grab-and-go beers.
The rule change is due to expire at the end of this month, despite our Save Our Sups campaign.
Pubs will have to pay a fee for off-site sales.
Sir Keir Starmer is set to allow the rules to expire to the fury of the pub trade, which is already facing a £3.4bn tax raid in the budget.
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.”
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.”
A public consultation got just 67 responses.
Drinker Paul Marshall, 39, from Saffron Walden, Essex, fumed: “Of all the issues going on in the world, I can’t believe the Government are bothering with this.”
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