Home/FIVS Alerts/Focus on Coronavirus: Notable Public Policy Developments Around the World – 18 May 2021

Focus on Coronavirus: Notable Public Policy Developments Around the World – 18 May 2021

FOR YOUR INFORMATION

We would like to share the following items which describe the impact that the coronavirus pandemic is having on the industry. Please contact the FIVS Secretariat with items that may be of interest.

Global: Alcohol sales volumes declined 6% globally during pandemic – New data from Euromonitor International indicates that global sales of alcohol beverages fell by 15.8 billion liters in 2020. Based on data from more than 100 countries, widespread closures and restrictions during the coronavirus pandemic caused global alcohol sales volumes to decline by more than 6%, suggesting that most individuals consumed the same or less alcohol during the pandemic.

Cambodia: Extending alcohol ban in capital – The Phnom Penh Municipal Administration has reportedly extended the ban on sales of alcohol drinks in the capital until 22 May 2021. Nearly 40 civil society organisations – which have supported recent measures banning the advertisement of alcohol beverages during the pandemic – have reportedly urged the administration to impose a permanent ban on alcohol beverage advertising.

Czech Republic: Outdoor hospitality reopening, but COVID-19 test required for customers – The Czech Minister of Industry and Trade reportedly announced that restaurant gardens could open as of 17 May 2021, but their guests must be vaccinated, tested, or have had COVID-19. A maximum of four people may sit at a table unless they are members of the same household. No date has been set yet for the reopening of the interiors of restaurants. Only window service and delivery from pubs and restaurants have been allowed since 18 December 2020. Pubs and restaurants reportedly have lost CZK 100 billion in revenue since March 2020 due to the pandemic.

Japan: Imposing tougher restrictions as variant cases rise – The Japanese government has reportedly expanded tougher pandemic restrictions, including the early closure of restaurants, effective 16 May through 13 June 2021, in five more prefectures. Eight other prefectures had already been placed under similar restrictions, and six other areas, including Tokyo, are currently under a full-fledged emergency with tougher restrictions in place until the end of May. The government may expand the number of cities on the northernmost main island covered by the quasi-state of emergency beyond Sapporo, where restaurants and karaoke establishments are asked to close by 8 p.m. and refrain from serving alcohol. Concerns are growing over the worsening situation in Japan, exacerbated by the spread of the highly contagious N501Y mutation, with less than three months until the Tokyo Olympics.

United Kingdom: Indoor hospitality reopening – Lockdown restrictions in the United Kingdom were eased to allow for the reopening of indoor dining, pubs, and other establishments like cinemas, effective on 17 May 2021. Indoor dining will be limited to groups of six or two households; table service will be mandatory in all restaurants and bars; customers must wear face coverings when not seated; and everyone entering a pub and restaurant must scan a QR code or leave their contact details. In Scotland, indoor venues may remain open only until 10:30 pm; customers must reserve two-hour slots; and groups will be limited to six people from no more than three different households. In Wales, six people from six households may meet to eat and drink indoors. In Northern Ireland, indoor hospitality remains closed, but an update is expected on 24 May 2021.

  • Some 45,000 pubs are estimated to reopen to trade inside from 17 May 2021, serving 3m pints, leaving 2,000 unable to open their doors due to limited space, one trade body has predicted.

United States: Temporary takeaway sales becoming permanent in Florida & Texas – The governor of Texas has signed legislation allowing alcohol beverages to be included in pickup and delivery food orders, a revenue stream that had been made temporarily available to restaurants due to the pandemic in 2020. An emergency order allowing restaurants to sell alcohol beverages with take-home meals has also been made permanent in Florida. The legislation applies to those restaurants with special licenses that derive at least 51% of their revenue from food and non-alcohol sales, and restaurants with regular licenses that derive 60% of their sales from food and non-alcohol sales. The sale of to-go drinks will be prohibited after midnight.

  • Wine shipments to be legalised in Alabama – The governor of Alabama signed legislation into law allowing out-of-state wineries, as well as Alabama’s 25 wineries, with licenses from the ABC board to ship wine to and within Alabama. Effective on 01 August 2021, the law will allow shipments of twelve 9-liter cases of wine per year from a winery.

Of Interest

Survey of wine professionals and the loss of smell and taste – The Union of French Oenologists conducted a survey of oenologists and other expert wine tasting professionals in May 2020 to evaluate the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on their profession, measure the risks of smell and taste impairments, and assess professional consequences. Those professionals whose smell and taste were affected by the pandemic represented nearly 2% of those surveyed. Among those affected, 61% fully recovered both senses (taking 18 days on average), while 32% only recovered them partially (taking 28 days on average) and 7% had not recovered by the end of the survey. For more information, click here.

NOTE: We make no warranty of any kind regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information in these FIVS Alerts; nor do we necessarily support or agree with views expressed or contained therein.

2021-05-19T01:40:53+02:00