Industry bosses said the plans were “unworkable” and could cause “conflict” between hospitality staff and customers
Prime Minister Boris Johnson did not rule out the option for pubs in England to introduce vaccination passports as a way of monitoring who can gain entry into pubs during the coronavirus pandemic.
Speaking at a liaison committee yesterday, Johnson said: “I think that’s the kind of thing that may be up to individual publicans.”
Boris Johnson told Sky News: “We’re looking at the issues that are raised by vaccination certification.”
Prime Minister Boris Johnson says 'no decisions have been taken' on whether people will need proof of vaccination or a negative #COVID19 test to attend a pub.
'None of this applies on April 12 because that's outside only', he adds.
Latest: https://t.co/n0pd1QBtRh pic.twitter.com/Eo82XPTfqa
— Sky News (@SkyNews) March 25, 2021
He said that the “three basic components” that could work together to create a vaccine passport are the “vaccine”, “immunity” that is present after you have had the virus and “testing.”
However, the PM was quick to clarify that “no decisions have been taken at all” and no proposals will “apply before April 12th.”
However, several brewers and landlords have revolted over the plans for the Covid vaccine passports to be used in pubs, following the news that individual pubs could prevent those from entering who fail to show results of a negative Covid-19 test, or proof of vaccination, the Mail Online reported.
Some industry bosses in the UK criticised the plans, saying that they were simply not workable.
Chief Executive of UK Hospitality Kate Nicholls, 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,” she said.
A Government source told The Times that pubs may be faced with the decision to open fully by using vaccination certificates or by operating at a 50% capacity with enforced social distancing.
The PM said: “We will be reporting on the work of the certification group in early April.”
