Region’s pubs tipped 6m pints of beer down drain
MORE than six million pints of stale beer had to be poured down the drain across the region after pubs were forced to close for months.
Severn Trent confirmed that it had given approval to tip out a vast volume of alcohol, which had gone off during the lockdown.
The water authority said it was important that alcohol was properly disposed of, with the risk that such a large amount poured into the sewage works could cause problems.
There was a fear that the bacteria which is used to break down waste could be impaired if too much alcholol entered the system at any one time.
Severn Trent confirmed that so far it had given consent for 3,500,000 litres of beer – or over six million pints – to be poured away.
Stressing the need for licensees to liaise with officials, a spokesman said: “There are some risks associated with tipping large quantities of beer into the sewer system unfortunately. We need to make sure that there is no overwhelming of the network if there are large quantities being disposed of, and that there is no impact on the running of our sewage treatment works.
“Our works clean up sewage using just bugs and heat, and if everyone sends all of the beer at the same time, this could impact the bugs and how well they do their job.
“We also need to make sure that nothing gets into the wider environment.”
Earlier this month, one of Birmingham city centre’s best-known watering holes, The Wellington, revealed that it alone had thrown away 20,000 pints on the back of an extended closure.
The British Beer & Pub Association had previously calculated that some 70 million pints would be thrown away at hostelries across the UK, on the basis that the nation’s 47,000 pubs had an average of ten beer taps each.
Emma McClarkin, the association’s chief executive, said the volume only showed the extent to which the crisis had impacted on the industry.
“It’s a great shame that so much great British beer that should have been enjoyed in community pubs up and down the country has gone to waste.”
Severn Trent said it was important that businesses continued to stick to the requirement to get permission for pouring away the untouched tipples.
“Our big ask is that all pubs, bars and restaurants check our website for contact details, and make sure they do speak to us first so that we can help them to dispose of their beer in a safe and responsible way,” the spokesman added.
Instructions will include when and how much alcohol can be poured away.
By law, publicans are required to provide data on demand of any disposal. More than six million pints of stale beer have been thrown down the drain across the region as a result of the lengthy closure of pubs.