Brits have one week left to enjoy a pint in the park

As the sunshine slowly but surely returns, for many Brits, this means the season of outdoor pints is finally here. However, this year it’s coinciding with a major change in pub licensing rules.

As of 1st April, pubs will no longer be permitted to sell takeaway drinks to be enjoyed off-premises, as a pandemic-era rule is reversed. The rule change will give Brits just over a week to get a final round in.

The announcement has been met with backlash from the hospitality industry amid a string of bad news for UK pubs.

Why is the Government banning takeaway pints?

During the pandemic, a temporary relaxation of licensing rules was introduced to allow pubs to sell takeaway drinks and ease the financial impact of social distancing rules.

Pub-goers were allowed to buy pints through hatches to enjoy al fresco or order alcohol to be delivered to their home. This measure provided a lifeline to taprooms at a time when lockdown was in full throng and sales were drying up.

The temporary easement of licensing was first extended by the previous Government to 2023, and then again until March 2025. However, the current Government has decided not to renew it a second time.

Dame Diana Johnson, the Minister of State for Policing, Fire and Crime Prevention, has announced that the previous government consulted with licensing authorities, trade organisations, residents’ groups, and members of the public. It seems the majority of respondents opposed making the licensing changes permanent.

With this in mind, the current government does not have sufficient grounds to extend the rule for the long term, making March 31st the last day for pubs to make off-sales. Following that deadline, the Licensing Act 2003 will revert to pre-Covid rules, meaning takeaway drinks will be a thing of the past.

How will the new rules impact UK pubs?

It comes as no surprise that the new rules have been met with disappointment from pubs and pub-goers alike. The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA), hospitality’s largest trade association, has said it is “incredibly disappointed” by the news.

A spokesman for the association, made up of members from over 20,000 UK pubs, said, “We have seen no evidence that this easement has created any widespread issues since it was introduced. Instead, it has helped to boost trade for pubs and therefore the economy as a whole, so this move will layer more cost and administrative burdens on pubs and local authorities,” as reported by the Express.

Pubs have long resumed their normal on-premises sales post-COVID. But the change still eliminates a valuable revenue stream at a time when hospitality sales are falling.

And as summer rolls around, the timing is particularly unfortunate, as customers are more likely to enjoy a freshly pulled pint on a sunny stroll.

Long road ahead for UK hospitality

The end of takeaway booze is just another blow for the UK hospitality industry, which, as of April 6th, will be met with various legislative changes.

An increase in employer National Insurance Contributions, and a rise in the minimum wage, will make it more expensive to pay staff, hurting profit margins. This, coupled with an overall lack of government support for hospitality businesses, is making it increasingly harder for pubs to keep their doors open.

What’s more, research published today found that the average pint cost will hit a record £5.01 in April 2025, as predicted last year, making it more difficult than ever for British pub-goers to justify spending at their locals.

With pessimism high, eliminating the possibility of serving takeaway pints comes as an additional slap in the face of pub owners.

With that said, for pubs that wish to continue off-sales beyond April 2025, applications to amend licensing rules with local authorities will be treated as minor variations. This is quicker and cheaper than major variations. This could mean that pubs can continue selling outdoor pints in cases where it has been working successfully.