Beer-eaucracy gone mad! Pub is BANNED from giving patrons free beers if they get vaccinated against Covid - despite encouraging an extra 500 people in the area to get the jab in just one week
- The Prince Alfred Hotel in Port Melbourne was offering a drink for a vaccine
- The pub is directly across the road from Port Melbourne's Town Hall clinic
- Via Facebook the hotel encouraged patrons to show their blue card for a beer
- The incentive started on June 28 but has not been blocked by the TGA
A Melbourne pub offering a free beer after you get vaccinated has been banned from providing the enticing incentive to thirsty patrons by box-ticking bureaucrats.
The Prince Alfred hotel in Port Melbourne is located directly across the road from the Port Melbourne Town Hall vaccination clinic.
The hotel was offering those who had been vaccinated to come across and enjoy a free drink on the house, hoping to do their bit to encourage Australians to roll up their sleeves and get jabbed.
One of the pub's owners, Tom Streater, said he hoped higher vaccine rates would lead to less chance of more lockdowns, which have already decimated the Melbourne hospitality industry.
Similar schemes have been very successful in the United States, where people have been offered beer, freebies and even lottery tickets to encourage them to get vaccinated.
Prince Alfred Hotel co-owner Tom Streater (pictured) offered patrons a free beverage if they show a blue vaccination card, encouraging people to get their coronavirus shots
The Prince Alfred hotel said thirsty patrons could simply show their blue vaccination card to redeem a free drink, but the Therapeutic Goods Administration soon stepped in to stop the scheme.
'Seriously, it's right across the road from us. And all the stuff happening across the other states right now is a painful reminder of how badly lockdown affects our pub business and our pub community,' the pub had written on social media.
'Present your little blue card at the bar after your jab and we'll give you a pint, a wine, a rum and Coke, pretty much whatever you want. And prolly a hug too if we were allowed.'
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Hotel co-owner Tom Streater told the Herald Sun he was contacted by the Therapeutic Goods Administration with the news alcoholic incentives were banned.
'I reckon about an extra 500 people in Port Melbourne got vaccinated this week because of us,' Mr Streater said.
'Take-up was maybe only 50 but when I looked across the road, more than half the people in the queue were our regular customers.
'I'd like to think our little effort made them more aware of the pop-up clinic.'
While the hotel in Port Melbourne (pictured) was attempting to encourage people to get their vaccines, the Therapeutic Goods Administration stepped in, as incentives for alcohol are banned
A spokesperson for the administration said that alcoholic incentives are not allowed because of the 'potential for it to cause harm'.
While the incentive has been stopped, it was not short of supporters as Facebook users showed their support.
One user wrote: 'Well done guys - the more of us vaccinated the better'.
While another added: 'Fantastic initiative Prince Alfred Hotel… every jab keeps Dan away'.
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