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    Re: Support our pubs and breweries Archived Message

    Posted by Mustafapoint on 7/1/2021, 8:50 am, in reply to "Re: Support our pubs and breweries"

    The template email

    Dear MP,

    I am writing as one of your constituents, to ask for your help in making sure that pubs are treated fairly when it comes to selling alcohol and other drinks to take home during the latest lockdown.
    There is confusion in the new lockdown regulations around whether pubs and social clubs will be able to operate on a level playing field with supermarkets and off-licences – as they have been able to previously.
    Takeaway sales, in sealed containers for people to take home, were a real lifeline for the trade in previous lockdowns and restricting that route to market now would be a death knell for many pubs. This will once again provide an unfair advantage to supermarkets and off-licenses that don’t face similar restrictions.
    Whilst pubs selling drinks in open cups during a lockdown shouldn’t be allowed, only allowing off-sales in sealed containers would allow pubs to sell drinks for people to have at home – just like supermarkets and off-licences can.
    Will you raise this with BEIS ministers on my behalf as a matter of urgency, asking them to clarify the situation and to confirm that pubs can trade as an off-licence, selling alcohol in sealed containers for people to take home, just like a supermarket or off-licence can?
    I’d also like you to support a long-term, sector-specific financial support package to make sure pubs and breweries don’t have to close down for good before restrictions start to be lifted and they can begin operating again.
    The new support grants announced by the Chancellor are very welcome. But I worry that they won’t be enough to help publicans make ends meet when they have fixed costs and have suffered with months of having no money going through the tills as a result of restrictions and closures.
    I’d like to see breweries and cider producers included in the definition of hospitality businesses so they can get much needed support too.
    Whilst I understand the need for the new restrictions, I also want to make sure that the Government realises the value of pubs to communities, individuals and the economy – and protects them so that they can re-open their doors once restrictions begin to be lifted.

    Thank you in advance for your assistance and I look forward to hearing from you.

    With best wishes

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