A new national survey shows three quarters of Australians feel confident about visiting their local club, pub or bar when restrictions permit.

The survey of 1000 Australians aged 18 and over was conducted by Bundaberg Rum’s Raising the Bar initiative to gauge confidence levels.

Across the country, confidence levels are lowest in Sydney and Melbourne, the two cities hit hardest by the Delta COVID-19 variant, with 70% of Sydneysiders and 72% of Melburnians describing themselves as feeling confident about returning to their local, compared to 87% of people in Perth, 86% in Brisbane and 84% in Adelaide.

Australian Hotels Association National CEO Stephen Ferguson said: “This survey shows Aussies are sick of hiding under the doona and want to get back down to their local for a beer and a shnitty with mates. Our hoteliers and staff can’t want to welcome their patrons back to their favourite watering holes as life gets back to normal.”

Despite the strong levels of confidence expressed about returning to local pubs, clubs and bars, two-thirds of Aussie adults say they still feel safest socialising with friends and family in someone’s home or in an outdoor setting compared to a restaurant or a pub.

Nationally, confidence levels dipped by 5% since January this year, however the biggest drops in confidence occurred in regional parts of Western Australia and Queensland, two states that have to date been largely shielded from the worst impacts of COVID-19.

However, the survey found the use of QR codes, contact tracing efforts and the nation’s rising vaccination rate are helping people’s feelings of confidence.

It also showed 88% of Australians either are, or intend to get, vaccinated against COVID-19. Encouragingly, 94% of respondents in NSW declared their intent to get the jab.

New Bundy ad to support pub visits

Bundaberg Rum has launched a new national advertising campaign to remind Australians not to forget their beloved local. The first of the series of four ads featuring Australian comedian Becky Lucas, premiered during the NRL grand final with a message encouraging Aussies to get vaccinated so we can get back to good times at our local.

The Raising the Bar initiative has provided more than 2000 hospitality venues across the country with COVID safe supplies over the last year, including more than 100,000 litres of hand sanitiser, more than two million items of PPE, and more than 4000 digital thermometers.

Angus McPherson, Managing Director of Diageo Australia, said: “We’re launching our ‘Don’t Forget Your Local’ campaign because we want everyone, across the country, to remember how great their local is, especially if it’s been a while between drinks.

“Raising the Bar was established to help our mates in hospitality manage the ongoing impacts of COVID-19 and we know they’ve had a shocker of an 18 months. We’re glad people are feeling confident about returning to their local, because we know our great local pubs, clubs and bars will be looking forward to welcoming their customers back when restrictions permit.

Lucas added: “The hospitality industry, like the live entertainment industry, has had a really tough time since COVID-19, so I’m proud to be a part of these ads and remind people of the great times that await, down at their local.

“This ‘Don’t Forget Your Local’ campaign is designed to help people like me, who may have spent a little too much time on their couch lately, brush up on a few important pub-rituals, like the art of a good ‘Cheers!” or how to carry a round of drinks.”

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