Lion says it will celebrate National Local Day every year moving forward, following the success of the inaugural event last month.

At midday on March 23, 2020, Australia’s 12,000 bars, pubs and clubs turned off their taps, stood down more than 400,000 staff and shut their doors due to the unfolding COVID-19 crisis. National Local Day is an initiative to support Aussie venues on the road to recovery. 

Lion handed out $600,000 worth of free beer to pub patrons to celebrate the day via $15 pre-paid Mastercards.

“We would like to say a huge thank you to our valued customers for getting behind the inaugural National Local Day promotion and campaign,” Lion Managing Director James Brindley said.

“We are pleased to announce that at 8.27pm AEDT on Tuesday, March 23, the entire prize pool of $600,000 was redeemed, with 40,000 patrons primed to get back into the on-premise.

“We look forward to building on National Local Day in the years to come. We want March 23 every year to be the day people right across Australia get back to their local pub, club, bar or restaurant for a meal and a draught beer, and to celebrate the important role they play in keeping communities connected.”

Watch a video about the event below:

PHOTO SPECIAL: National Local Day 2021