The prospect of pubs not opening until a vaccine for Covid-19 is created has been described as a “nightmare scenario” by the Licensed Vintners Association.

The prospect of pubs not opening until a vaccine for Covid-19 is created has been described as a “nightmare scenario” by the Licensed Vintners Association.
The LVA said that situation would result in many public houses going out of business for good.
The association was reacting to comments by the Minister for Health in an interview with the Sunday Independent in which he said that he could not visualise people being in packed pubs as long as the virus is still circulating.
He suggested that an effective vaccine or treatment might not be in place until 2021.
“That is the absolute nightmare scenario for the entire pub sector. If that happens then most pub businesses in this country will be out of business for good,”  LVA’s chief executive Donall O’Keeffe said.
“The LVA and its members will absolutely support whatever measures are deemed necessary in the interests of public health, as we have done from the beginning of this crisis, but if closing pubs until 2021 is going to be necessary then it is essential that a pub specific support scheme is introduced,” he said.
“Otherwise there won’t be a pub industry in this country by the time a vaccine is found,” he added.
The association welcomed Government support for the 50,000 staff laid off for the crisis but added that it would have to be extended for the duration of the closure period.