The Campaign for Real Ale has hit back against Government advice for people to avoid pubs, restaurants and bars - saying it will cause many “to close and never reopen”.
CAMRA has issued a statement slamming Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s advice given yesterday in the light of the coronavirus outbreak, which laid out a number of new, strong measures that include social distancing and working from home if you can.
Nik Antona, CAMRA’s national chairman, said the “lack of decisive instruction” will “leave pubs in a limbo where customers will abandon them”.
Mr Antona was referring to how Mr Johnson’s speech on Monday contained advice and not rules, meaning hospitality venues such as pubs will be unable to claim insurance or other support to help them survive.
Earlier on Tuesday, the BBC reported how the Scottish Licensed Trade Association said businesses could go under within weeks if no government help is received.
Mr Antona said: “The Government has not defined how long people should stay away from pubs, but be in no doubt, within a short time, many pubs and breweries will close and never reopen to serve their communities.
“If the Government believes people should not go to pubs, it needs to show leadership by clearly telling [them] to close their doors - and not unfairly leave it up to licensees to make an impossible decision.”
He said the Government needed to make clear for how long the closure should last - and “quickly deliver a package of support to see pubs and breweries through”.
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Mr Antona said that should include extending business rate relief, deferring or forgiving VAT payments, covering staff salaries, and allowing pubs to stay open if they provide other vital services such as post office facilities.
He added: “We’d also call on pub companies to support their tenants by giving them a rent holiday during the crisis and particularly during any forced closure. Other suppliers such as sports TV providers could also demonstrate their support of the pub industry by giving them a payment holiday.”
James Calders, CEO of the Society of Independent Brewers, has written a letter to Kit Malthouse, Minister for Crime and Policing asking him to relax licensing laws so brewers “can deliver to the public”.
Those measures may include allowing breweries to sell and deliver beer directly to consumers, or easing laws surrounding Temporary Events Notices.
His letter added: “I understand the necessity for licensing controls, but at this moment when our businesses need all the help they can get, a temporary change could make all the difference to our members.”
The government’s second daily briefing over the coronavirus outbreak is set to take place later this afternoon.
What are the new guidelines for the 海角视频?
Speaking to the nation yesterday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson issued the following strong guidance for people:
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1. Anyone who lives with someone with symptoms to isolate for 14 days.
The prime minister said people should start working from home “where they possibly can”.
“You should avoid pubs, clubs, theatres and other such social venues,” he added.
“This advice about avoiding all social contact is particularly important for people over 70, for pregnant women and for those with some health conditions.”
Mass gatherings are something the government is "moving emphatically away from” and they will no longer be supported with emergency workers, Mr Johnson said.
2. Working from home
The government has said people should now start working from home where possible.
Mr Johnson said: "“You should avoid pubs, clubs, theatres and other such social venues,” he added.
“This advice about avoiding all social contact is particularly important for people over 70, for pregnant women and for those with some health conditions.”
He said the government would be advising 'emphatically' against mass gatherings.
3. Stop all non-essential travel
“Now is the time for everyone to stop non-essential contact with others and to stop all unnecessary travel,” Mr Johnson said.
The Foreign Office has already issued advice to avoid a number of countries that have imposed travel bans.
4. Most vulnerable asked to self-isolate for twelve weeks
Mr Johnson said by the weekend, groups particularly vulnerable to Covid-19 will be asked to stay at home for 12 weeks.
He said: “In a few days time, by this coming weekend it will be necessary to go further and to ensure that those with the most serious health conditions are largely shielded from social contact for around 12-weeks.
“Again, the reason for doing this in the next few days rather than earlier or later is that this is going to be very disruptive for people who have such conditions.”