One in three German pubs could close for good

Germany | Due to the Corona pandemic, an estimated 70,000 pubs and restaurants are on the brink. The new guidelines make it impossible to operate economically and the stimulus package is not adequate, the industry association Dehoga emphasises.

In a survey by the association, 81.5 percent of respondents said that if they were to comply with the new guidelines, they will not be able to run their business profitably.

According to Dehoga 70,000 pubs and restaurants are on the verge of ruin. Hundreds of thousands of jobs are at risk. The two-month long shutdown cost German publicans and hoteliers about EUR 18 billion (USD 20.4 billion) in lost turnover. And even after reopening, sales are 50 percent to 70 percent lower than in the previous year, due to social distancing requirements and extensive protection measures.

The association criticised the federal government’s corona stimulus package for not being sufficient. The planned support falls short of catering firms, clubs and bars (still closed) that are particularly affected. Extending the government’s support is imperative, Dehoga said.

Read more about the German beer market: On-premise beer sales could shrink by more than half in 2020