Pubs in England and Wales will be able to continue selling takeaway beer and cider after the government decided to keep Covid licensing rules.

The rules were due to expire on 30 September, but they will now be continued until March 2025.

CAMRA chief executive Tom Stainer (pictured) said: “It’s a good sign that the government has listened and decided to backtrack on its plans to end the automatic permission for pubs to make off-sales.

“We hope that it has also been listening very carefully to the trade and consumers, who are also calling for a relaxation of the new tax rules around draught takeaway sales, which restrict many publicans from selling takeaway beer and cider regardless of whether their licence allows them to do so.

“This is because the new rules force them to buy separate containers of draught beers and ciders, with a higher rate of duty paid on them if they want to sell them for takeaway. We are hopeful that the government will remove these unnecessary restrictions soon.”