This week’s industry news includes New Alcohol Restrictions, Sydney Bar Week 2020, Keep Our Venues Alive campaign, Pernod Ricard’s Meals for Mates, Bacardi’s $3M Pledge and more.
Photo © Cocktails & Bars
Sydney Bar Week 2020 Postponed
Australian Bartender magazine has announced that it has postponed Sydney Bar Week 2020. The event has been reduced to 3 days and will now take place from Sunday 25 October to Tuesday 27 October. The Bar Awards will move to a cocktail style event on Tuesday 27 October to be held at Upstairs at The Beresford in Sydney. (source)
Pernod Ricard’s Meals for Mates
A new initiative, Meals for Mates has been announced pledging thousands of meals to hospitality workers impacted by the
COVID-19. Recognising many small businesses are still open with a takeaway or delivery option, $25 vouchers are being made available to impacted hospitality staff in VIC, NSW and QLD while vouchers are in stock (limit 4,000) to the value of $100,000. Hospitality workers impacted by the COVID-19 crisis can access a $25 voucher by emailing [email protected] along with their RSA card or other proof of working in the hospitality industry. The voucher is valid for three months.
Keep Our Venues Alive Campaign
A national campaign – Keep Our Venues Alive – has been launched by industry organisations including the Night Time Industry Association with wider industry support expected to follow. A website has been established to track the impact of the crisis on venues and report back. The aim is to tell a cohesive story to Government at all levels across the states and territories. Take a look at the campaign website here and the petition here.
New Alcohol Restrictions
Dan Murphy’s and BWS have introduced new measures that limit the purchase of alcohol across Australia (except WA which has its own restrictions). The BWS limits are 12 bottles of wine, 3 cask wine, 4 cases of beer, 4 cases of cider, 4 bottles of spirit per person over 18 per day. Dan Murphy’s limits are 18 bottles of wine, 3 casks, 3 cases of beer, 3 cases of cider, 3 cases of premix, 5 bottles of spirits.
World Whiskies Awards 2020
The World Whiskies Awards and Icons of Whisky 2020 were announced digitally by Whisky Magazine in London and we have the full list of the winners here.
Bacardi’s $3M Pledge #RaiseYourSpirits
As a result of the COVID-19 shutdown, Bacardi Limited has announced a $3M pledge – a combination of financial aid and other support – to the bar and restaurant industry. This comes under the umbrella platform #RaiseYourSpirits, and is in addition to the $1M already committed by PATRON.
Asia’s 50 Best Bars to be Announced Digitally
Asia’s 50 Best Bars has confirmed that it will replace its on-site awards ceremony with a digital countdown. The annual list will be unveiled on 14th May, beginning at 7pm Singapore time. It will announce a series of special awards in the month leading up to the awards countdown via 50 Best’s website and social media channels, namely:
- Campari One To Watch – To be announced on 16th April
- Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award – To be announced on 23nd April
- Michter’s Art of Hospitality Award– To be announced on 30th April
- Altos Bartenders’ Bartender – To be announced on 7th May
New Dates for Singapore Cocktail Festival
The Singapore Cocktail Festival which was due to take place from 15 to 22 May 2020 has been postponed. The new dates for are as SGCF City Take Over from 23 to 30 October 2020 and SGCF Festival Village from 23 to 25 October 2020.
