Will vaccine passports be needed to enter UK pubs?

The idea of utilising vaccine passports has been mooted for a while, but they have predominantly been discussed in relation to travelling abroad. However, in recent weeks, whispers emerging from Whitehall have proposed the idea of passports being required to enter pubs, something which has angered many and has also added another layer of confusion to a Covid-19 pandemic already rife with multiple misperceptions.

In this blog, we’ll take a look at the reaction to the pub-based vaccine certificate concept, the likelihood of it happening, and what role vaccine certificates and passports have – if any – over the coming months and years.

The Conception

The idea of vaccine passports or certifications being needed to enter pubs and restaurants was first voiced in earnest at the beginning of March 2021. The concept, raised by Boris Johnson during a regulation press outing, seemed to be something akin to a throwaway comment – he said it and then quickly moved on to something else, a tactic he has utilised countless times over the last year.

However, word quickly spread about the potential for further restrictions that would likely significantly impact hospitality industries, and as such, it is hardly surprising that publicans and landlords around the country voiced their concerns.

What’s more, the PM subsequently stated that the utilisation of such passports - should they be introduced at all - on a pub’s premises would be at the discretion of those running the establishments. He then slightly back tracked, saying ‘no firm decision’ had been made. For a sector that is currently struggling more than it has done at any point in recent memory, such plans – being both haphazard and half-baked – are far from helpful.

The Current Situation

Following widespread backlash from an array of people in the hospitality sector, the PM has backed away somewhat from the idea of vaccine certificates being required but has also refused to rule them out entirely. He has openly stated that there is a ‘role’ for such certificates in the months ahead but has not elaborated on that statement since, and as such there still remains an element of confusion.

As things currently stand, vaccine passports will not be required to enter a pub, and landlords are not going to be obligated to ask people whether they have been vaccinated prior to them entering an establishment. This is good news not only for publicans but also for those under the age of 30, who will likely not have been given the opportunity to be vaccinated prior to pubs reopening.

It seems likely that vaccine passports or certificates will play some role in the future, especially as foreign travel starts to become more viable, but whether they will be used at all in pubs, hotels or restaurants, or if they will be needed with regard to staycations, is still very much up in the air.