Barman in tier 2 shares pictures of binned food as he begs drinkers to only buy pints if hungry

A barman in a tier 2 area has urged people to only buy pints if they are hungry, after having to bin uneaten food.

Will Dalrymple claimed he had witnessed entire meals being scraped into the bin untouched just so drinkers could enjoy a round of pints.

Under the government’s latest three-tiered system of coronavirus rules, pubs and bars in tier 2 areas must close to the public unless operating as restaurants and can only serve alcohol with “substantial” meals.

Mr Dalrymple, who admitted the new rules were “confusing”, posted images on Twitter showing uneaten sandwiches, salad and chips which he claimed had been binned after people only bought them so they could have a drink.

In a series of tweets, he said: “If you're desperate to go to/support a pub, go when you're hungry.

Watch: How England's new three-tier COVID system works

“Aside from the APALLING food waste I've witnessed over the last two days (scraping whole meals, untouched, into the bin because the people who bought them fancied one pint before catching the train home).

“You really should be actually eating in order to be able to enjoy alcoholic drinks. While I can sort of see the rationale behind the rules, they're horribly vague and put bar staff in a difficult position. Each pub will interpret the rules differently. Accept it.”

He added in another tweet: “DON'T GO TO THE PUB UNLESS YOU ARE HUNGRY. All this food went in the bin because three people wanted two Morettis each. With everything in the news about people relying on food banks and free school meals, this is utterly obscene.”

The pub worker, who does not reveal where he works, also pleaded with drinkers to not put pressure on staff to bend the rules or lose their temper as restrictions are enforced.

The government’s latest set of rules prompted confusion across the country as a debate erupted over whether a scotch egg counted as a substantial meal after environment secretary George Eustice suggested it did.

Pub owners left to interpret what constitutes a substantial meal have come up with inventive menu options.

The Castle Inn, in Tring, Hertfordshire, has launched a “Boris Menu” featuring starters of garlic bread and soup for 99p, main courses of baked beans on toast, hot dog and chips, or tomato and mozzarella pizza bread for £1.99, and 99p desserts.

Watch: The COVID dos and don’ts of Christmas this year

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