Pubs permitted to stay open later during Women’s Euros
Pubs will be permitted to stay open until 1am if either England or Wales reach the final stages of the UEFA European Women's Championship this July. The post Pubs permitted to stay open later during Women’s Euros appeared first on The Drinks Business.
Pubs will be permitted to stay open until 1am if either England or Wales reach the final stages of the UEFA European Women's Championship this July.
It is certainly not an unprecedented move, with similar permissions announced during last year's men's tournament – although Scotland failed to get beyond the group stage, England managed to reach the final, losing 2-1 to Spain.
By contrast, the England women's national football team, more often referred to as the 'Lionesses', beat Germany in the final of the 2022 tournament to claim the country's first piece of silverware for almost six decades.
The announcement that pubs will be allowed to stay open past midnight was due to the upcoming tournament, which is taking place in Switzerland from 2 to 27 July, being what the UK Home Office has dubbed an event of "exceptional national significance".
Dame Diana Johnson, Minister of State for Policing, Fire and Crime Prevention, said: Nothing quite brings people together like watching our national football teams. We want fans to enjoy every minute of these matches."
England and Wales are actually in the same group, Group D, alongside France and the Netherlands – while England is the reigning champion, this marks the Welsh teams debut in the tournament. The two nations play against one another on 13 July.
If either team makes the final, it could be very good news for the pub sector indeed, and not just because of the later opening hours – the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) predicted ahead of 2022's final that 10 million pints would be sold as fans flocked to their locals to watch the match, giving the sector a £40 million boost.
Regarding this year's decision to extend opening hours, BBPA boss Emma McClarkin commented: "Our sector plays a huge part in boosting community spirit and extending licensing hours means people can gather for longer and host even more events that cheer on our squads."
It is certainly not an unprecedented move, with similar permissions announced during last year's men's tournament – although Scotland failed to get beyond the group stage, England managed to reach the final, losing 2-1 to Spain.
By contrast, the England women's national football team, more often referred to as the 'Lionesses', beat Germany in the final of the 2022 tournament to claim the country's first piece of silverware for almost six decades.
The announcement that pubs will be allowed to stay open past midnight was due to the upcoming tournament, which is taking place in Switzerland from 2 to 27 July, being what the UK Home Office has dubbed an event of "exceptional national significance".
Dame Diana Johnson, Minister of State for Policing, Fire and Crime Prevention, said: Nothing quite brings people together like watching our national football teams. We want fans to enjoy every minute of these matches."
England and Wales are actually in the same group, Group D, alongside France and the Netherlands – while England is the reigning champion, this marks the Welsh teams debut in the tournament. The two nations play against one another on 13 July.
If either team makes the final, it could be very good news for the pub sector indeed, and not just because of the later opening hours – the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) predicted ahead of 2022's final that 10 million pints would be sold as fans flocked to their locals to watch the match, giving the sector a £40 million boost.
Regarding this year's decision to extend opening hours, BBPA boss Emma McClarkin commented: "Our sector plays a huge part in boosting community spirit and extending licensing hours means people can gather for longer and host even more events that cheer on our squads." 
