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]

  1. ^ Hutton 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d Fetzer 2021.
  3. ^ "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.