PUBS will be allowed to carry on selling take-away pints to help them boost income.
They were due to lose the right to so-called “off sales” when lockdown alcohol rules expire next month.
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But teetotal Rishi Sunak was said to have personally stepped in to allow them to carry on.
It means pubs and bars will not need to complete a separate application for the extra licence needed for off-site sales.
A No10 source said: “Takeaway pints and al fresco drinks are not just a much-enjoyed addition to pub menus but also a welcome source of income for businesses recovering from the impacts of the pandemic.
“The PM will always back British pubs. He’s listened to the industry and heard them loud and clear — now is not the time to call last orders on takeaway pints and the boost to business that they bring.”
The licensing rules were eased in July 2020 to let pubs sell takeaway pints without having to get council permission.
It allowed punters to enjoy a drink in plastic cups on pavements outside the premises.
But the rules were due to end on September 30, with the Home Office saying councils, residents’ groups and drinks’ retailers favoured a return to pre-Covid rules.
The hospitality industry warned that would mean landlords having to complete burdensome applications to retain the right to valuable off sales.
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Mr Sunak has now stepped in to over-rule the Home Office.
Official documents suggested between 8,500 and 12,800 premises were likely to carry on selling takeaway pints.
