A beloved loophole that allowed patrons to purchase takeaway drinks from their preferred pubs will not be extended.

This easing of alcohol regulations, which served as a lifeline for the beleaguered hospitality industry during the pandemic, provided venues with a chance to recoup some much-needed revenue through takeaway beverages.

The public embraced alfresco drinking, providing a crucial financial boost to local pubs and businesses by choosing takeaway drinks. It's been a welcome relief, but sadly, this particular treat is due to end as the rules expire on March 31, reports the Mirror.

Businesses were initially allowed to serve customers via hatches in 2020 when lockdown restrictions prohibited indoor gatherings. In 2023, when the regulations were extended, CAMRA chief executive Tom Stainer said: "It's a good sign that the Government has listened and decided to backtrack on their plans to end the automatic permission for pubs to make off-sales."

Mr Stainer also expressed hope for further flexibility, particularly regarding new tax rules affecting draught takeaway beers, stating: "We hope that they have also been listening very carefully to the trade and consumers, who are also calling for a relaxation of the new tax rules around draught takeaway sales, which restrict many publicans from selling takeaway beer and cider regardless of whether their license allows them to do so."

After extensive back-and-forth, the prior Government launched a public consultation from May 16, 2024, to July 11, 2024, deliberating on three potential paths to solidify these lenient measures. Nevertheless, as things stand, the final bell rings at the end of this month, and establishments that reaped the rewards of such rules will have to let go of these liberties as of March 31, 2025.

This development has set off a wave of backlash and disapproval, especially from the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA), which voiced their frustration by labelling the verdict "incredibly disappointing". They also stressed that there is "no evidence that this easement has created any widespread issues."

A representative from the BBPA conveyed their dissatisfaction, saying: "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."

The representative further contended that since its inception, the policy relaxation hasn't caused any major problems. Instead, it has supposedly boosted business for public houses, thereby having a positive impact on the broader economy. They warned that rescinding the easement will lead to extra costs and red tape for both operators and local councils.

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The BBPA has appealed to the Prime Minister to reflect on the consequences of this course of action, cautioning that it will stymie growth and complicate matters with more bureaucracy.

Dame Diana Johnson, Minister of State for Policing, Fire and Crime Prevention, has voiced her disappointment regarding the non-renewal of certain measures. She said: "The previous Government launched a consultation which ran from 16 May 2024 to 11 July 2024, which gave three options to maintain these easements on a more long-term basis.

"These options were to make permanent the alcohol licensing provisions in the BPA, to amend the wording in the Licensing Act 2003 to extend the definition of on-sales so that it includes consumption in a licenced pavement area, or to amend the Licensing Act 2003 to permit on-sales only premises licence holders the right to make off-sales to any area for which there is a pavement licence."

"There were 67 complete responses to this consultation exercise, from licensing authorities, trade organisations and residents' organisations, as well as members of the public. The majority of these respondents disagreed or strongly disagreed with all three options proposed. In light of those responses, the Government does not currently have a basis to proceed with any of the legislative options to maintain the temporary easements for the long-term. As such, the off-sales measure will expire on 31 March 2025 and the Licensing Act 2003 will automatically revert to the pre-Covid position.

"While the Government must accept the results of the consultation exercise conducted under the previous administration, we are disappointed that there was not a consensus in favour of retaining an easement from which many pubs and pubgoers have benefited, and which supports our objectives both to promote the growth of the UK economy, and specifically to support the nation's pub trade."

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