Beer: Coronavirus

(asked on 18th January 2022) - View Source

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what support his Department is making available for brewery taprooms affected by reduced footfall caused by the spread of the omicron variant over the festive period.


Answered by
Helen Whately Portrait
Helen Whately
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
This question was answered on 21st January 2022

The Government is committed to supporting hospitality venues throughout this challenging period.

The COVID-19 Additional Relief Fund (CARF) is designed to provide support to businesses affected by COVID-19 that have not been covered by existing support linked to business rates. This relief will be awarded through funding for Local Authorities (LAs), taking into account the economic impact COVID-19 has had on specific sectors. It is for LAs to award relief based on their local schemes and applications received, while having regard to the guidance.

The Government is also providing an Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant (OHLG) worth up to £6,000 to eligible businesses. If a hospitality venue generates more than 50% of its income from providing in-person food and drink services, then they will be eligible to receive this. Hospitality venues not eligible for the OHLG may be able to apply for support from the Additional Restrictions Grant, which was increased by over £100 million in response to the Omicron variant.

Furthermore, as announced at Autumn Budget 2021, the duty rates on alcohol, including beer, will be frozen for another year. This is expected to save consumers £3 billion over the coming years and will save beer drinkers £900 million. Beer duty rates are now at their lowest level in real terms since the 1990s.

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