Pubs doing “takeaway” alcohol

[Notcontent]

Just saw a notice on a neighbourhood website advertising that a local pub is doing takeaway pints this weekend. I can completely understand why a pub would want to do that. BUT, let’s be honest, people buying the “takeaway” pints will not be buying them to take them home. They will want to stand outside in the sun to drink them with friends - that’s the whole point. And that seems to raise all sorts of issues - like crowding outside the pub - and sorry to raise this again - LACK OF TOILETS!!!

Pubs are required, as a condition of their licence, to provide toilets - because drinkers need to go, even if they have bladders made of steel... I am just glad I don’t live near the pub in question as I would not want the front of my house being used as a toilet.

I do @SunflowerSeedsForever but we fancied more than we could get in the growler! Long live the humble milk carton

A few round this way have been doing it since the start of lockdown, no issues with people hanging around at all.

Think maybe you’ve jumped to an erroneous judgey conclusion op.

I also don’t see an issue with this and I applaud the entrepreneurial spirit of these places trying to stay afloat. Of course they need to manage it or they would likely loose their licence, I’m sure they have thought of that.

I also have no issue If folks wish to sit in the sun and have a drink outside in the beer garden or wherever , either with someone from their own household or a socially distanced one with someone from another household, and walk or drive home and use their Own loo after.

As far as I’m concerned they could even eat a meal from the pub out there too if it is socially distanced and managed appropriately by the pub staff.

I think it's a way forward for pubs, definitely those that can't reasonably social distance when they're allowed to reopen.
People get shitty enough over existing licencing laws, God only knows what they're going to be like when you add social distancing to that.
It's going to have to be a new landscape for pubs for a while, while social distancing needs to be happening, if they can do this to survive then good for them.
And if you can't tell the difference between handpulled cask ale and a bottle from Tesco you're probably one of those people who goes to their local once or twice a year, complains about everything and then says "Oh what a shame" when it closes through lack of business. Stick to Tesco tins.

Thanks to everyone who is supporting their local pubs, they're far more than just somewhere to get pissed in.

Real ale is "niche" in the UK 😂

I've heard it all now. It's been working perfectly well here since March

We have a local pub/micro brewery, they are doing takeaway or delivery but the smallest amount you can buy is a growler(!) Which is a couple of litres and it's not in the kind of container you could drink from easily. DH has had a rough couple of weeks with work and I had some delivered this morning, he was over the moon. It's IPA/ales though not lager so the flat/warm thing isn't an issue. I ordered via FB messenger and paid via PayPal goods and services. I could've collected (they give you a slot and have a contactless process), but I wanted it to be a surprise

@Timekeeper1 do you know what postmix is? It's syrup that's mixed with carbonated water at the tap - cola, lemonade etc. Beer comes in kegs, even crappy watery draught lager (fosters, carlsberg, Stella et Al)

That's lovely @DontStandSoCloseToMe 👍🏻

Our locals that are doing takeaway are mostly selling bottled beer. The brewery is doing pins, but we just wouldn't drink that much

I think they're being very enterprising. Good for them.

Our local do 5pint pouches, last a good couple of days in the fridge. Top tip to get a head, pour a small amount into blender, blend, add to pint glass and then add rest of beer and leave to settle-‘‘tis lovely!

Why are people saying just go to the shop?!
Why are you so small minded and privileged!
People want to support the pubs so that barrels and barrels of alcohol don't go to waste, so that after lock down pubs will still be there, so that those who run and own the pubs still have a roof over their heads!

I am 50, take away from the pub is not a new thing, have you never read the sign above the door about the licence?
It is fine, you just buy it to take home to drink, the pub was always open later than off licences so great if you had a party and run out of booze, or live rurally and need a bottle of wine to take to dinner. Or just wanted to carry on drinking after last orders.
Only disadvantage is it is more expensive but that's the price for convenience

God only knows what they're going to be like when you add social distancing to that

I think that’s what’s next up. Pubs etc will reopen with social distancing rules and a bunch of people are going to get all sniffy and be checking everyone’s complying and if they spot someone who doesn’t, even for a split second, they will be on to the police saying everyone was at it and reporting the pub.

Guaranteed. We’ve already got a bunch of people spying on their neighbours and reporting them. Next up pubs or anywhere else folks enjoy themselves.

I don't understand why certain people are being so sniffy/credulous about the idea. Surely this is no different to supporting other sorts of local business. I've ordered from a local brewery, I also get fruit and veg from the green grocers; milk, butter and cheese from the deli; fish from the fishmonger; and household stuff from the hardware store because I really like those shops and want them to be there when all this is over. I suppose I could go to the supermarket to get all that but a) it's much further away, b0 the quality is better, and c) it's my money and if this is how I choose to spend it it's my concern.

I haven't seen anyone faux puzzled about why people are buying veg boxes when they could just go to the supermarket, so I can only assume it's the puritan element doing their usual thing and finding fault with anything that has a whiff of fun about it.

But what about all the barrels which will otherwise go off and be poured down the drain? The environmental impact of all that beer in the waste water will be huge! I’d rather it went into peoples bellies to be honest.

I think that’s what’s next up. Pubs etc will reopen with social distancing rules and a bunch of people are going to get all sniffy and be checking everyone’s complying and if they spot someone who doesn’t, even for a split second, they will be on to the police saying everyone was at it and reporting the pub.

Guaranteed. We’ve already got a bunch of people spying on their neighbours and reporting them. Next up pubs or anywhere else folks enjoy themselves.

Not to mention the ones that won't be able to accept things are different and get shitty when asked/asked not to do something or that things might take longer and start bleating about how the power crazy staff are ruining their enjoyment by asking them to stick to the measures put in place so the pub can be open at all.

We got takeaway espresso martini kits from our local bar last night. Absolutely perfect!

@littlejalapeno I believe a lot of barrels have had to be disposed of already , seams such a waste

A bit of trouble is what you buy into when you buy a house near a pub to be honest

@SaskiaRembrandt I guess that it just sounds weird and unhygienic. Vegies often come in boxes. That's normal. But beer normally doesn't come in a 2 litre plastic milk bottle. It might not be a bad thing, but, it just sounds really off. We support our local pubs by buying takeaway lunches and dinners, and they often include a free stubbie or two in with the meals. And we buy a six-pack of beer in the big bottles or stubbies, as well as bottles of wine. None of the pubs have even mentioned anything about kegs, it just doesn't seem a big deal and no one thinks about it. Now that I think about it, you all probably have a point and I must ask one of our publicans about the kegs. I just presumed they keep them in the cold room. Like you store bottles of beer in the fridge. I do admit I am not knowledgeable on this, and it has me wondering now what does happen to the kegs. But, rightly or wrongly, I think taking a plastic milk bottle to the pub to be filled up with beer is just something I can't visualise in my head, it sounds rank. I don't know.

I will ask when I'm next out or see them though. I'd be interested to know what our lot are doing with the kegs.

Our local pub is selling takeout ale and people are taking it home, no one is drinking it outside in from their washed out old milk cartons. Businesses need to generate income where they can do safely, YABU.

@justanotherscumbag

I don't think social distancing in pubs is feasible. For one thing people knocking back drinks have full bladders, so will be in and out the toilet. People lose inhibition after a few drinks and will forget the rules, forcing the staff to either act or just have the rules broken. Same with regards to monitoring numbers of people in the pub etc. It'll be a nightmare to police. Presumably no live music.

People will stay away from pubs if there's a big list of rules to adhere to which take all the fin out of going, unless you just want a quiet pint.

Generally I doubt I'll be going to pubs until at least most of the restrictions are lifted.

None of the pubs have even mentioned anything about kegs, it just doesn't seem a big deal and no one thinks about it. Now that I think about it, you all probably have a point and I must ask one of our publicans about the kegs. I just presumed they keep them in the cold room. Like you store bottles of beer in the fridge. I do admit I am not knowledgeable on this, and it has me wondering now what does happen to the kegs.

Our brewery are going to replace any unbroached out of date stock that went out while we're told to be closed. Kegs and bottles.

Some of the lagers and ciders might be ok to use again if still in date when we reopen as when you remove the keg coupler, the keg reseals itself.

Handpull tap and rack are different. They have a much shorter shelf life unopened and need controlled conditions to be at their best. They need to breathe and therefore are open to the air and go off faster once opened.

Some places won't have that support from breweries, especially small independent ones that are struggling themselves. By selling their stock, and then buying more to sell they're helping to keep not just their pub going, but the smaller breweries that tend to make the craft beers too.

@MadameMarie

That's going to be the thing though isn't it, use it or lose it.
If people don't use the pubs when they're allowed to reopen because of the social distancing then they're going to close.
If people do use them and ignore the social distancing, then they will probably get closed.
Trying to get drunk people to adhere to social distancing is going to be like herding cats. But the onus, and the fall out is going to fall on the pub, and the staff.
That's why I think selling off licence is a good thing, or for outdoor spaces like beer gardens.
Let people make the choice themselves, and take responsibility for that choice while still having some sort of trade.