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TOP 10 in under 10 minutes IT’S BEEN ONE OF THE MOST TUMULTUOUS PERIODS IN AUSTRALIAN HOSPITALITY, WITH COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS DEVASTATING THE ON-PREMISE. THESE WERE THE TOP 10 ARTICLES ON THE DRINKS TRADE WEBSITE BETWEEN SHUTDOWN ON MARCH 23 AND THE END OF MAY. 1. PERNOD RICARD LAUNCHES MEALS FOR MATES Pernod Ricard announced an initiative called Meals for Mates in late March, pledging thousands of meals to hospitality workers impacted by the COVID-19. Hundreds of thousands of staff across bars, pubs, cafes, restaurants and clubs across Australia either lost their jobs or were struggling to cope with reduced hours, with many small venues and businesses forced to close their doors from recently introduced measures to slow the spread of the virus. Recognising many small businesses, despite the current economic conditions, were still open with a takeaway or delivery option, Pernod Ricard made $25 vouchers available to impacted hospitality staff across Victoria, NSW and Queensland. More than 4000 vouchers have been provided to date. 2. BAR STAFF ABUSED OVER COVID-19 OUTBREAK Staff at Eaglemont Cellars and Wine Bar in Melbourne were abused in March after being linked to a COVID-19 outbreak.
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The venue hosted a birthday party on March 14, with the bar owner noting that “a significant number” of guests had travelled from overseas, mainly the UK, to attend the function — which was held before the mandatory two-week isolation for overseas travellers was enforced. The owner and other staff members began exhibiting coronavirus symptoms around March 21. On March 25 they were notified that a guest had been diagnosed with COVID-19, so a number of staff got tested. At least five staff tested positive and the venue was subjected to abuse online regarding the outbreak. “We are sad and disappointed at the defamatory remarks that have come through our social media particularly when we have all been so ill,” the owner said on Facebook. “We have trusted in the Department of Health process with regards to dealing with the pandemic. “We will continue to convalesce and would ask for some consideration during this time. We will advise of our new open date and naturally our premises have been
sanitised as a precaution and in accordance with Department of Health regulations. Be kind, be safe, be well.” 3. LION LAUNCHES XXXX DRY IN QUEENSLAND XXXX released a new easy drinking full strength lager, XXXX DRY, in Queensland and the Northern Territory in March. The beer was launched on tap in selected venues, with 330ml bottles to follow from April 20. The brand has no plans at this stage to take the beer south. Tully Hadley, Head Brewer at the XXXX Castlemaine Perkins Brewery said: “XXXX DRY is brewed here at Milton using many of the same quality ingredients as the rest of the XXXX family, such as premium Australian barley, malted locally in Queensland. “We want to give XXXX DRY a crisp finish, so we’ve used Nelson Sauvin hops, which gives a slight aroma and makes the beer incredibly refreshing for those hot Queensland days.”
