Pub’s free beer ban could be overturned

A Port Melbourne pub has been ordered to stop giving free beers to vaccinated customers as a way of rewarding them for getting vaccinated.

The Prince Alfred hotel was contacted earlier last week by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and was ordered to stop giving away free pints. The TGA states on their website that that businesses cannot offer alcohol, tobacco or medicines as incentives to get vaccinated.

Prime minister Scott Morrison has called the move “a bit heavy-handed”.

“This is a national interest vaccine program and we will be making some changes to ensure that these good-hearted, good-natured initiatives [can continue],” he said on Friday.

“The rules are there for important reasons so drug companies can’t offer [inducements] to people,” Mr Morrison said.

“It is a sensible rule, but in these circumstances, the national interest is to get vaccinated. So the Prince Alfred down in Melbourne, good on you for getting behind it. We’ll get it sorted, common sense will prevail. Cheers to the PA.”

The PM said Health Minister Greg Hunt would speak to the TGA and request that they take a different stance in this or similar cases.

A spokesman for the TGA said its rules were being reviewed.

Not everyone is happy with Mr Morrison’s stance.

Victorian Alcohol and Drug Association chief executive Sam Biondo feels the Prime Minister has overstepped and should not be seeking to reverse the ban.

“The TGA’s approach of not fixing one harm by another potential harm is a reasonable position,” he said.

“It may sound like one glass of beer is trivial... but if you are suffering from the harms of alcohol and the impacts of family violence then you may have a different view.”

Irit Jackson, 12th July 2021