Food and Beverage Media, publisher of The Shout, National Liquor News, Australian Hotelier and Bars and Clubs, has made the difficult decision to cancel the 2021 Australian Liquor Industry Awards (ALIA).
Continued uncertainty regarding the COVID-19 outbreaks in New South Wales, Victoria and Australian Capital Territory and the potential for capacity and travel restrictions still to be in place when the awards were scheduled, mean that while difficult, this is the right decision.
Paul Wootton, Managing Director of Food & Beverage Media, said: “The decision to cancel this year’s event won’t come as a great surprise, given what’s happening around the country right now. ALIA has always been a celebration of Australia’s brilliant drinks industry, including the venues, products, suppliers and people who make it world class.
“With so much of the country in lockdown, large parts of the hospitality sector shut down and so many people suffering individually, it doesn’t feel appropriate to be planning this year’s ALIA, even if we were able to run it safely in late October.
“Like everyone, we hope life starts to return to some semblance of normal soon, we look forward to venues reopening and drinking a cocktail or a fresh cold beer at the bar with our friends very soon. When venues start to reopen and normality begins to return, we will start planning to bring back ALIA and once again celebrate our incredible liquor and hospitality sectors. We’re all looking forward to that.”
The whole Food and Beverage Media team are disappointed ALIA 2021 will not be happening, but will make sure that when ALIA does return it will be the fantastic celebration of this industry that it always has been.
While ALIA will not go ahead, Food and Beverage Media is excited to reveal it will be running The Bloody Big Drinks Summit from 25 to 29 October and is currently seeking presentations to be part of the Summit.