UK Government Loosens Alcohol Restrictions For Venues

The UK government has announced a three-tiered system of restrictions, which is going to replace the nation-wide lockdown that ends Dec. 2.

The different tiers are meant to place different territories and the people living in them under different restrictions, all depending on the Covid numbers in any given territory. 

Initially, the government had banned the sale of alcohol unless it was accompanied by what it called “a substantial meal,” under tier 2. 

Since grassroots music venues derive the majority of their income from wet sales and don’t have the facilities to provide substantial meals, it would have effectively prevented them from operating. 

After sustained discussions and lobbying of government ministers, the Music Venue Trust (MVT) and other UK live organizations got the government to loosen the restriction a bit, and allow venues to sell alcohol without also having to sell a substantial meal.

“This new decision to allow alcohol sales identifies the purchase of a ticket as having equivalent intention by the consumer to the purchase of a meal,” an MVT statement reads.

Since the alcohol needs to be consumed while seated, the new ruling doesn’t really help nightclubs. And venues in tier 3 territories are still not allowed to even open.

Yet, this may be seen as a step in the right direction.

MVT CEO Mark Dayvd explained, “Music Venue Trust alongside Live Music Industry Venues and Entertainment Group (LIVE) has worked hard with the government to make the case that the consumption of culture and the consumption of food should be treated equally. If music be the food of love play on!

“We are delighted that we have been listened to and that guidance has been issued that makes it clear that ticketed events at grassroots music venues can go ahead in Tier 2 with alcohol on sale.

“It makes a direct difference to the number of shows that can be delivered and is a significant step forward in the campaign to Revive Live Music and Reopen Every Venue Safely.”

Phil Bowdery, Chair of the UK’s Concert Promoters Association LIVE, added, “LIVE is delighted that the Government has listened to our calls to allow alcohol to be sold at live music venues under the new Tier 2 restrictions. 

“This announcement is hugely important for our industry as stopping the sale of alcohol was going to mean that even if venues were technically able to open under Tier 2, they wouldn’t have been able to financially.

“There’s still a long way to go for the live music industry to recover, and the new situation is extremely challenging for those in Tier 3, but we’re grateful to all those involved, in the industry and in Government, for securing this sensible step.”

The UK’s Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) once again lamented the lack of scientific evidence that would justify the latest tiered restrictions.

“Our sector works incredibly hard alongside Government departments, to ensure that our businesses are ‘Covid Safe’, only to be hit, yet again with unworkable and unviable business restrictions, that have no scientific evidence base,” a NTIA statement reads.

A NTIA survey conducted among 400 businesses working in the hospitality and night time economy showed that 75.6% of those businesses didn’t expect to survive Christmas.

NTIA CEO Michael Kill said, “This announcement by the Government has led us to believe that they are intentionally aiming to collapse our sector. Every town and city across the UK stands to lose valued and much loved venues.  This will be another stab in the heart of our town and city centres.

“We stand to lose the cultural institutions and amazing workforce of professionals that the UK are renowned for globally. Our clubs, bars, venues, security, freelancers, staff, managers, DJ’s and many more will lose their livelihoods and continue to suffer financial hardship without Government intervention.

“I make a direct appeal to the Prime Minister – ‘Mr Johnson, what are you doing to save the lives and livelihoods of the many businesses and workers within the night time economy, businesses that have been closed since March and are continuing to suffer? They have staff and freelancers that will lose their jobs irrespective of furlough because the businesses won’t survive’ 

“What do you say to that Prime Minister, I hope you are sleeping well at night because thousands within our sector are struggling to sleep, in fear of their future.”