Publicans have spoken out against ‘absurd,’ ‘idiotic’ and ‘ridiculous’ lockdown restrictions which ban them serving takeaway alcohol, as the Stroud MP calls on the Government to change the rules. While supermarkets and off-licenses can sell beer to take away, pubs have been left “on their knees” financially, with the Crown and Sceptre selling vegetables and the Prince Albert serving pizza to make ends meet. MP Siobhan Baillie raised the issue in parliament and wrote to the business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng asking him to let pubs serve takeaway alcohol, after being lobbied by the Campaign for Real Ale. “Something needs to be said about it because we’re an industry on our knees already,” said Rodda Thomas, who runs the Crown and Sceptre.