Pub vaccine passport plan ‘unworkable’ says industry

Boris Johnson is facing a revolt by his own party’s MPs and pub groups over a plan floated yesterday for a vaccine passport to get a drink.

The PM made the suggestion during questions about the government’s timetable for re-opening pubs and restaurants fully.

Under the scheme, publicans might be required to check the validity of a vaccine certificate before serving someone or letting them into the premises.

The BBC reported that the government is also looking at allowing people to show a negative test.

Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UKHospitality, said: “It’s crucial that visiting the pub and other parts of hospitality should not be subject to mandatory vaccination certification.

“It is simply unworkable, would cause conflict between staff and customers and almost certainty result in breaches of equality rules.”

Steve Baker, deputy chairman of the COVID Recovery Group, also slammed the pub plans.

“The Prime Minister began to tread a dangerous path when he opened the door to domestic COVID certificates.

“First they said we’ll need them to watch the football, and today that it may be papers for the pub.”

Describing it as a ghastly trap, Baker suggested it could see society divided with people who can’t take vaccines such as pregnant women or communities who culturally are reluctant to take it turned away by businesses.

, owner of the Harvester and All Bar One chains, also expressed reservations: “Vaccine passports or Covid certifications would pose numerous practical issues for our industry. We don’t currently have plans for our guests to provide proof of vaccination before entering one of our businesses.”

The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA)  added that “Our sector has already gone to extraordinary lengths to prepare for reopening and we do not believe a requirement for pubs to check whether someone has had the vaccine would be appropriate or necessary.”

Boris Johnson said that no decision had been made yet.

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