Pubs could ration drinkers to two or three pints after lockdown

A government advisor has suggested that Brits could be limited to two or three pints when pubs reopen from the coronavirus lockdown.

Businesses will need to enforce strict social distancing measures once the lockdown measures are lifted, and Eyal Winter is working with the government on plans for easing the measures.

Winter, an economist and a behavioural expert, at Lancaster University told the Guardian newspaper that ministers are concerned pubs will get packed once the public are allowed out after weeks of being at home.

He said, “People are starving for pubs.

“They are an important part of British culture.”

One solution put forward could be to limit the number of people in pubs and ration beer to two ro three pints per person, then being told to go home.

He said that cinemas and theatres will need to ensure there are gaps between seats and will need to sell half of tickets per show.

Winter added, provided there are no new pandemics it could take two years to return to some normality.

He said, “It will take a lot of time to move back to January 2020.

“But we will get there.”

The Mayor of Manchester Andy Burnham has said he is planning to reopen pubs and restaurants, which goes against the government’s advice.

He said there should be “standards led” easing of the lockdown measures and the Health and Safety Executive to decide if businesses can apply social distancing effectively.

He told Sky News, “I worry that if we’re going down the sectoral approach it could have heavy consequences for a city like Manchester, or say Blackpool – a town that really depends on tourism and hospitality.

Meanwhile, an industry sector expert has claimed that the UK pub sector could be hit by a “bloodbath” and a third of the sector are at “risk” if lockdown measures last until Christmas.

Chief executive of UK Hospitality, Kate Nicholls, has called on the government for intervention “as a matter of urgency.”