The easement, which had been due to lapse on 30 September 2022, allows hospitality businesses to sell alcohol as part of takeaway and delivery orders; as well as serve it in pavement and other outdoor areas where relevant.
Sector trade bodies had been pushing for the Home Office to extend the legislation, with UKHospitality calling it a move that will 'help hundreds of businesses struggling to survive'.
“This decision to extend the off-sales easement is the right one, and hugely significant,” says Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UKHospitality.
“If this had lapsed, it would have caused further problems for many hundreds of hospitality businesses already struggling to survive.
“But persistent lobbying by UKHospitality and others has convinced government that deregulation measures such as this can help businesses, at what is a critical time in their efforts to stay afloat.
“This will benefit those hospitality businesses that have successfully evolved operating models to incorporate takeaway and outdoor sales, and allow them to continue to do so.”
UKHospitality says it will now work with government on a long-term solution beyond September 2023, which will aim to dovetail with the forthcoming permanent pavement licence regime. It will also continue to examine broader, ongoing deregulation work to aid the hospitality sector’s recovery.