CAMRA responds to the Scottish Government’s new pub restrictions

Commenting on the announcement that pubs will be under curfew from Friday, CAMRA’s Director for Scotland, Joe Crawford 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. CAMRA is now asking the Scottish 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 responsible publicans across the country 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.

“Without a proper financial support package, communities will lose their local forever, people will lose their jobs, and publicans their livelihoods. The Scottish Government needs to immediately extend the hospitality business rate relief scheme for another year,  take action to resolve the rents crisis facing the sector, and join CAMRA’s calls for the UK Government to reintroduce the furlough scheme for hospitality businesses.”