With a 50% downturn in draught beer sales recorded nationally, It’s probably no surprise to hear that local pubs are doing it tough.

As ongoing Covid restrictions continue to change how struggling venues can run, the latest Australian Tax Office (ATO) figures show draught beer sales were down by half in the first quarter (July-September) of the 2021-22 tax year.

That’s 40 million fewer pints of beer poured nationally, than for the same period in 2019, before the pandemic hit.

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It comes after a horror year in 2020 where pubs and clubs lost over $1 billion in beer sales due to lockdowns and other restrictions.

The ATO recorded 903,982 litres of alcohol as having been served in beers over the counter in July-September 2021 compared to 1,993,027 litres during the same period in 2019.

The latest figures from the ATO show that losses for 2021 could well exceed this.

The Lismore App rang some of our struggling local pubs to find out how the pandemic has impacted on our hospitality sector.

The Gollan

Glenn, the manager at the Gollan Hotel said the business was relying on this summer period to recover from the devastating hit to sales during lockdowns.

"The reality is that this hasn’t happened,” he said. “It’s worse than it’s ever been – no parties or functions and under half the normal trade. 

“I’ve had to cancel all of the live music acts I had booked – we can’t have live music, dance or sing. It’s crazy. It’s stopping us from making a living.

“We were trying to get ahead and had bands booked and karaoke and they were shattered too when I cancelled.

“What’s the difference between a pub and a church – when they can sing and dance at a church?”

Glen said Lismore town was also quieter than normal for a January, surmising that people were staying home because it was deemed “safer”.

“So, now we are doing it tough and all the government grants are finished and there’s no compensation.

The Rous

Darryl, manager at the Rous Hotel said things were much the same there, with five functions already cancelled during the first half of January.

“I’ve cut staff hours and put on half the bar staff I used to - to try to keep trading in a bid to save a little bit,” he said.

“Normally we’d have tradies and a good lunch crowd here during school holidays – lots of families and kids – but now there’s no one. 

“We will keep going but it’s hard to plan and organize things.

“We wanted to do something for Australia Day, but now we won’t because we don’t know if we will have staff or patrons.

“I’m not sure why it’s so hard to get staff. Before Christmas I thought it was because people wanted time off and didn’t want to work. Supermarkets are finding the same.

Beer tax

Brewers Association of Australia, Chief Executive John Preston is now calling for the Federal Government to use the forthcoming Federal Budget to reduce Australia’s 4th highest beer tax in the world to give pubs and clubs a fighting chance.

“We are very concerned that on 1 February the Australian Government will hit Australian beer drinkers with one of the biggest beer tax increases in more than a decade – it’s not right and it’s not sustainable. Other countries have been reducing their tax on draught beer to give pubs and beer drinkers a break.”