Pubs encouraged to offer free pints to tackle vaccine crisis

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Free beer: House of Greenland campaign aims to encourage pints being purchased and vaccination uptake

House of Greenland has launched a campaign in a bid to tackle low vaccination rates in the under-30s and encourage customers to visit the pub, as well as their nearest vaccination centre, before Christmas.

The London-based creative agency has launched the ‘Antibody Beer Club’ (ABC), a scheme encouraging publicans to offer a free beer to customers who can prove they're double jabbed, or in the agency’s words – ‘a free beer for every prick’.

House of Greenland co-founder Martin de Fleuria said: “Vaccine hesitancy among the under-30s is a huge issue when it comes to fighting off this terrible virus. So, we wondered how we could encourage people to get jabbed and thought a free beer might well be enough to win over some of them.”

Vaccinations for a free pint

Pubs and breweries across the UK can participate by downloading free posters, stickers or ordering T-shirts and supporting customers who receive coronavirus vaccinations by offering a free pint.

Customers need to show the staff behind the bar their vaccine card with proof of vaccination to receive a free beer and a pint-shaped cut-out or ink stamp on their vaccination card, which turns it into an ABC membership card. 

The initiative has aimed to encourage more pints to be purchased after figures from the British Beer & Pub Association last week showed pubs were expected to sell 37m fewer pints this festive trading period, losing £297m across the sector.

Hangover from hell

de Fleuria added: “The Omicron variant has hit the pub trade like a hangover from hell.

“We wanted to help the industry in some way and, hopefully, this will allow people to enjoy their free pints in a safe and responsible way. There’s no safer pint than one after you’ve been double jabbed, plus a booster for good measure.”

Publicans and brewers wishing to participate in the scheme can find more information and downloaded assets here.