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14th June 2021

Scotland fans to buy 360,000 pints during opening Euros match against Czech Republic

But ongoing restrictions will severely reduce boost to pubs, trade association warns

The Scottish Beer & Pub Association (SBPA) has predicted that Scotland fans will buy 360,000 pints when Scotland play the Czech Republic in their opening match of UEFA EURO 2020 on Monday 14th June.

However, the trade association warned that the boost to pubs from the match will be severely hampered by ongoing restrictions, including one metre plus social distancing, no standing and the rule of six.

The trade association says these restrictions will greatly reduce the experience of watching UEFA EURO 2020 at the pub and will limit the number of customers they can have viewing the match.

Because of this, it estimates that beer sales during the match will be almost 90,000 pints less than if the game was being showed without restrictions. This, the trade association says, will result in a loss of revenue to pubs in Scotland of nearly £350,000 during the match alone, which would have been vital to the sectors recovery.

Overall, the trade association estimates 800,000 pints will be sold on Monday in Scotland, with 360,000 of those being sold during the game itself.

A survey of 1,000 pub goers by the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) and KAM Media found that 85% of pub-going football fans believe the current restrictions will negatively impact their experience of watching UEFA Euro 2020 at the pub this summer.*

Half said they would be more likely to watch UEFA Euro 2020 at their pub if all restrictions on pubs are lifted, despite 91% of football fans saying they missed watching matches at the pub during lockdown.*

As more and more individuals receive their vaccination, and to give the nation a return to normality and enjoy such a national occasion as UEFA Euro 2020 properly, the SBPA is urging the Scottish Government to remove all restrictions for pubs.

Emma McClarkin, Chief Executive of the Scottish Beer & Pub Association, said:

“Nothing beats watching the football at the pub. We expect Scotland fans to buy 360,000 pints when in the pub watching Scotland play the Czech Republic.

“Unfortunately, the current restrictions on pubs do mean the experience isn’t going to be the same. No standing and limits on group sizes, as well as social distancing, are going to severely reduce the number of people who can enjoy the game in the pub.

“Because of this, we expect Scottish pubs to sell 90,000 less pints during the game than they would have done without restrictions. That will cost Scottish pubs almost £350,000 during the game alone. Given our pubs have been closed or faced restrictions for more than a year, every little helps and is critical to our recovery and survival.

“More and more people are getting the vaccine each day. It’s time for the restrictions on our freedoms to be replaced by the protection of the vaccination and for businesses and life to get back to normal. The Countdown to Freedom is on.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors

*Survey of 1,000 pub goers conducted by KAM Media on behalf of the British Beer & Pub Association between Friday 28th and Monday 31st May.


Press release from the Scottish Beer & Pub Association

Contact: nlawrie@beerandpub.com