Under the latest government lockdown restrictions pubs and restaurants will be barred from selling alcohol to take away from their licensed premises or by click and collect. The new ruling means that from January 7 they can only sell alcohol if it is delivered to their customers’ homes.
Liberal Democrat Leader, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, thinks that is just plain wrong. Commenting he said: “Anyone can go to a supermarket, corner shop or off-licence to buy booze and take it away, but from this week our struggling pubs, micro-breweries and restaurants will be unable to. They can continue to sell food to customers from their premises, so why can’t they buy a few pints of fresh cask ale to go with it.
“I asked the Council Leader at the December meeting of Oldham Council if we could publicise those local breweries and pubs which are making off-sales as this has proven to be a financial lifeline for them; now they cannot make off-sales unless they deliver. Many of the smaller outlets will be unable to do this.
“With this announcement, the Prime Minister has dealt yet another body blow to our struggling hospitality industry and I fear that if this lockdown lasts until Spring many of our pubs and smaller breweries will be permanently closed.”