CAMRA responds to the Prime Minister’s new pub restrictions

Commenting on the announcement from the Prime Minister that new restrictions on pubs may be in place for the next six months, CAMRA Chief Executive Tom Stainer said:

“Pub-goers and publicans alike want to stop the spread of COVID-19, but this curfew is an arbitrary restriction that unfairly targets the hospitality sector and will have a devastating impact on pubs, jobs and local communities. For the third time in a week, CAMRA is calling for the Government to publish the evidence that pubs or restaurants are the source of more transmissions than other sectors across the country – if they aren’t, then why are they being singled out for nationwide restrictions?

“This is punishing the thousands of responsible publicans across England who are providing a COVID-secure environment for their communities, while already operating at greatly reduced levels in their efforts to keep their customers safe.

“Make no mistake about this – without a proper financial support package, communities will lose their local forever, people will lose their jobs, and publicans their livelihoods. This can only be avoided if the Government acts now to reintroduce the furlough scheme for hospitality venues, extend the business rates holiday for another year, take steps to resolve the rent crisis facing the sector and drastically cut draught beer duty.”