Sheffield pub in Facebook 'rant' over takeaway alcohol rules in lockdown two

The Norfolk Arms on Ringinglow Road posted the appeal on Facebook earlier today after the Prime Minister’s announcement yesterday that England would go back into lockdown from Thursday.

They say allowing supermarkets to continue to sell alcohol while banning pubs from doing the same is unfair and will mean pubs have to throw away all their perishable stock.

And they added that allowing them to continue to serve food over the next four weeks just adds to the confusion.

In a post prefixed with the words ‘rant ahead’ on their Facebook page earlier today, they said: “Over the next lockdown supermarkets are allowed to sell alcohol to the general public and can carry on trading as normal as possible.

“However, the hospitality trade who have perishable alcohol stock already purchased and sat in our cellars are unable to sell this from Thursday so once again cask ale will have to be poured down the drain. How is this fair?

“We as an industry have already lost the majority of trade this summer in weddings, function bookings and tourism due to the first lockdown and now we are having our hands tied again by not being able to innovate our businesses to get through the next month by having one avenue of income stopped.

“Surely someone has to look at this in the government and realise it’s hard enough for us to survive without penalising us again! If we can't sell alcohol as a takeaway option why are supermarkets allowed?”

In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a digital subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Nancy Fielder, editor.