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Eat Out to Help Out

Diners at a restaurant in London in August 2020, when the Eat Out to Help Out scheme was in place.

Eat Out to Help Out was a British government scheme to support and create jobs in the hospitality industry to counter the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.[1][2] The scheme involved the government subsidising food and non-alcoholic drinks at participating cafes, pubs, and restaurants at 50%, up to £10 per person (per order). The offer, announced in July 2020, was available during the month of August 2020, from Monday to Wednesday each week.[3][2]

In total, the scheme subsidised £849 million across 160 million meals.[2][4] Some consider the scheme to be a success in boosting the hospitality industry,[5] while others disagree.[6][7] A 2021 study found that the scheme contributed to a rise in COVID-19 infections.[2][8]

Background

This article is part of
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Chancellor of the Exchequer
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
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Further information: COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom and Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a significant economic impact, especially in the hospitality sector, due to a decline in tourism and leisure activities. Many sectors were ordered to close and the public to stay at home to reduce the spread of COVID-19 during lockdowns. Changes in consumer behaviour during the pandemic also resulted in the hospitality sector continuing to suffer losses after lockdowns were lifted. The Eat Out to Help Out scheme was designed to increase demand in the hospitality industry and encourage spending consumer behaviours.[2]

Scheme and impact

The scheme was announced by Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, on 8 July 2020 as part of the British government's Plan for Jobs strategy.[1][9] £2 million was spent on focus groups and polling to promote the scheme.[10] Patrick Vallance (the Chief Scientific Adviser) and Chris Whitty (the Chief Medical Adviser) were not informed of the scheme.[11] Vallance's diary entries from the time say that Sunak said "it’s all about handling the scientists, not handling the virus", not realising Vallance was still in the room.[12]

The scheme involved the government subsidising food and non-alcoholic drinks at participating cafes, pubs, and restaurants, where the food and drinks were consumed on the premises. The subsidy was for 50% of the order, up to £10 per person (per order). The offer was available from 3 to 31 August, from Monday to Wednesday each week.[2][3][13] There were no limits on how many times an individual could use the discount.[1]

The scheme led to a significant increase in restaurant visits during August, which were greater than the visits during the corresponding period a year prior (in August 2019).[2] Participation in recreational activities was also increased by 5–6% on the days the scheme was active.[13] Staff recruitment in the food service industry–measured by job postings–had increased by 7% to 14%, an increase not detected in other industries.[13]

Regions where the scheme was utilised more frequently saw a rise in COVID-19 infections. After the scheme ended, infections in these regions had notably decreased. A 2021 academic paper suggested the scheme may have been responsible for "between 8–17% of all newly detected COVID-19 infections (and likely many more non-detected asymptomatic infections) in late summer".[2] Two papers suggested that positive economic impacts were not sustained after the scheme had ended.[2][13]

Further lockdowns were introduced later in 2020 after the scheme ended in response to an increase in COVID-19 infections, which forced many hospitality venues to close once again.[2]

On The Andrew Marr Show on 4 October 2020, Prime Minister Boris Johnson acknowledged the possibility that "Eat Out to Help Out" could have helped spread COVID-19, saying:

I also think that it is important now, irrespective of whether Eat Out To Help Out you know, what the balance of there was, it unquestionably helped to protect many… there are two million jobs at least in the hospitality sector. It was very important to keep those jobs going. Now, if it, insofar as that scheme may have helped to spread the virus, then obviously we need to counteract that and we need to counteract that with the discipline and the measures that we’re proposing. I hope you understand the balance we’re trying to strike.[14]

The 2021 academic study said "EOHO scheme may have contributed to indirect economic and public health costs that vastly outstrip its short-term economic benefits".[2]

John Edmunds of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, a member of the Sage committee of advisers during the pandemic described the scheme as "a spectacularly stupid idea and an obscene way to spend public money".[15] At the COVID-19 inquiry, Edmunds stated that he was still angry about the scheme and that while it did not cause the second wave of COVID-19, it "encourage[d] people to take an epidemiological risk".[16]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Hutton 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Fetzer 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Eat Out to Help Out launches today – with government paying half on restaurant bills". GOV.UK. 3 August 2020. Archived from the original on 23 January 2021. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  4. ^ Ng, Kate (25 November 2020). "Businesses claimed £849m through Eat Out to Help Out scheme for 160 million meals". The Independent. Archived from the original on 25 November 2020. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  5. ^ Barrie, Josh (9 September 2020). "Eat Out to Help Out scheme has already made back half the money the Government spent on it". inews.co.uk. Archived from the original on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  6. ^ Inman, Phillip (1 October 2020). "'Eat out to help out' did not boost hospitality sector finances – poll". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 21 December 2020. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  7. ^ "Eat Out to Help Out scheme had a 'limited effect on the UK's restaurants and cafes'". 10 February 2021. Archived from the original on 25 February 2021.
  8. ^ Ross, Tim (4 October 2020). "Boris Johnson Says 'Eat Out' Drive May Have Spread Covid in U.K." Bloomberg. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  9. ^ "Chancellor's Plan for Jobs to help the UK's recovery". GOV.UK. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  10. ^ Crerar, Pippa (11 April 2024). "Rishi Sunak spent £2m on focus groups for eat out to help out scheme". The Guardian.
  11. ^ Walker, Peter (7 December 2023). "Covid inquiry: Johnson surprised 'eat out to help out' not cleared by scientists". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
  12. ^ "Scientists not consulted on Eat Out to Help Out - Sir Patrick Vallance". BBC News. 20 November 2023.
  13. ^ a b c d González-Pampillón, Nunez-Chaim & Ziegler 2021.
  14. ^ Mills, Jen (4 October 2020). "Boris Johnson admits 'Eat Out to Help Out' could have helped spread Covid". Metro. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  15. ^ McKie, Robin; Helm, Toby (3 June 2023). "Sunak under fire as 'stupid' Eat Out to Help Out scheme to be focus of Covid inquiry". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
  16. ^ Walker, Peter; Walker (19 October 2023). "Science adviser referred to Rishi Sunak as 'Dr Death', Covid inquiry hears". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 October 2023.

Sources
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