Music Venue Trust "delighted" at UK government allowing alcohol sales at ticketed live shows

The original post-lockdown rules included a ban on the sale of alcohol in venues situated in tier two areas, but today (30 November) the UK government has confirmed that music venues will be able to sell alcohol at ticketed live shows when lockdown ends on Wednesday (2 December).

Prior to today's (30 November) guidelines update, alcohol would have only be served as part of a 'substantial' meal, but Music Venue Trust argued that 92% of grassroots music venues do not have the space or facilities to meet that criteria. Music Venue Trust also warned that the ban on alcohol sales would impact grassroots music venues hugely, with roughly 65% of their income coming from drink sales.

Music Venue Trust CEO Mark Dayvd has since responded to the change, writing, "Music Venue Trust alongside Live Music Industry Venues and Entertainment Group (LIVE) has worked hard with the government to make the case that the consumption of culture and the consumption of food should be treated equally. If music be the food of love play on! We are delighted that we have been listened to and that guidance has been issued that makes it clear that ticketed events at grassroots music venues can go ahead in Tier 2 with alcohol on sale. It makes a direct difference to the number of shows that can be delivered and is a significant step forward in the campaign to Revive Live Music and Reopen Every Venue Safely."

Phil Bowdery, Chair of The Concert Promoters Association added, "LIVE is delighted that the Government has listened to our calls to allow alcohol to be sold at live music venues under the new Tier 2 restrictions. This announcement is hugely important for our industry as stopping the sale of alcohol was going to mean that even if venues were technically able to open under Tier 2, they wouldn’t have been able to financially. There's still a long way to go for the live music industry to recover, and the new situation is extremely challenging for those in Tier 3, but we're grateful to all those involved, in the industry and in Government, for securing this sensible step."