In a Twitter post on 31 December, BrewDog co-founder James Watt addressed both Nicola Sturgeon and UK Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Matt Hancock suggesting they use his venues free of charge to distribute the coronavirus vaccine to people across the UK.
Mr Watt tweeted: “Hi @MattHancock & @NicolaSturgeon. We would like to offer our closed @BrewDog venues to help with a quick roll out of the vaccine. For free.”
Hi @MattHancock & @NicolaSturgeon
We would like to offer our closed @BrewDog venues to help with a quick roll out of the vaccine. For free.
We have waiting areas, huge refrigerators, seperate rooms for vaccinatations and an ace team who can help organise.
We want to help. pic.twitter.com/xljizBcfGx
— James Watt (@BrewDogJames) December 31, 2020
The chain which has bars in Aberdeen, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee, Inverurie, Perth, Peterhead, St Andrews and Stirling as well as various other locations across the UK hopes to offer up its spaces as their ‘ace team’ are keen to help in the fight against the virus.
Mr Watt added: "We have waiting areas, huge refrigerators, seperate rooms for vaccinations and an ace team who can help organise.
“We want to help.”
Thanks @NicolaSturgeon - we are here & ready to do whatever we can to help get our country through this pandemic. https://t.co/bON9diyLZy
— James Watt (@BrewDogJames) December 31, 2020
The First Minister has since thanked Mr Watt for his offer, saying she will hand this proposal over to the Government’s vaccination team.
Taking to Twitter to respond to Mr Watt, Ms Sturgeon said: “Thank you. I’ll pass this on to our vaccination team.”
Mr Watt’s offer comes as Scotland’s Healthy Secretary, Jeane Freeman confirmed that Scotland would receive 44,000 doses of the Oxford University and AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine at the beginning of next week, January 4 with the four nations continuing to plan supply and delivery.
Matt Hancock has yet to respond.
James has since tweeted an update, saying: "Vaccine update: We are in now talks with the Minister For Vaccine Deployment @nadhimzahawi & @NicolaSturgeon
"We have offered all @BrewDog bars to help with a quick roll out of the vaccine. For free. We have waiting areas, huge refrigerators & ace people who can help organise."
Vaccine update: We are in now talks with the Minister For Vaccine Deployment @nadhimzahawi & @NicolaSturgeon
We have offered all @BrewDog bars to help with a quick roll out of the vaccine. For free.
We have waiting areas, huge refrigerators & ace people who can help organise. pic.twitter.com/lRRd8uYuTC
— James Watt (@BrewDogJames) December 31, 2020
Since the original tweets, the brewers have added that they may launch a celebratory beer, with name options including: vaccine canteen and jab lab.
We are in talks with the Government about using our closed @BrewDog bars as vaccination centres.
We are also going to give everyone who gets vaccinated at a BrewDog bar a special commemorative beer.
But what should we call it? pic.twitter.com/ahuFolnxQ7
— James Watt (@BrewDogJames) January 1, 2021
The move comes in a year that has seen the brewery hit the headlines for their tongue in cheek limited edition beers, such as Barnard Castle Eye Test IPA, and a collaboration with Aldi on their ALD IPA.
The business is also aiming to be carbon negative and recently launched Bloody Good Beer – with proceeds going towards essential period supplies.
To celebrate period products being made free for all in Scotland, BrewDog released the new beer, titled Bloody Good Beer.
Posting on Twitter and LinkedIn co-founder of BrewDog, James Watt wrote: “Scotland is the first country to make menstrual products free for all.
That made us bloody proud. So, we’re launching a Bloody Good Beer. All profits will be donated to @bloodygood__ who get essential period supplies to people who need them.”
The beer is described by the BrewDog team as having a ‘ punch of tropical guava aroma, floral and stone fruit, rounded off with a sweet mandarin citrus finish.’
Scran episode 8: How craft beer conquered the world - with BrewDog co-founder Martin Dickie
Words: Hannah Brown
