VB releases an advert urging Australians to get the Covid vaccine to open up the pubs

Victoria Bitter has released a new advert urging Aussies to roll up their sleeves and get the Covid-19 jab so they can get back into pubs for a well-earned beer. 

The iconic beer company tweaked its classic 53-year-old anthem for a new campaign launched on Thursday to help speed up the end of lockdowns.   

‘Right now you can’t get it goalin’, you can’t get it bowlin’. You can’t get it takin’ a vow, or chasin’ a cow,’ the narrator declares in a play on the beer’s iconic advert.

‘A hard-earned thirst comes from being all over town, not from being in lockdown. 

‘So if you’d like to get back to leading a band, or lending a hand, roll up your sleeves, and get the jab.’

Victoria Bitter has launched a new campaign (pictured) calling on Aussies to get the Covid-19 vaccine so they can get back to the pub

‘Matter of fact, I got mine now.’

VB’s Head of Marketing Brian Phan said the campaign encouraged Australians to get vaccinated so people across the country can return to work and re-unite with family and friends. 

‘This will support hospitality and business more broadly by encouraging Aussies to get the jab so we can re-open all of Australia’s pubs, clubs, construction sites, offices, shops and everywhere else you earn a hard earned thirst,’ he said in a statement.  

The new ad comes as Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Thursday revealed the state’s roadmap out of lockdown, which begins the Monday after 70 per cent double-dose vaccination coverage is reached – expected to be October 18.  

Fully vaccinated people in NSW will be able to visit family and friends who’ve been double jabbed, dine out, travel and go to the hairdresser, gym or sports events once the state hits the 70 per cent target next month.  

Up to five adult household guests will be allowed, plus children, and groups of up to 20 can gather outdoors.

Hospitality venues can reopen subject to the ‘four square metre’ rule, as can shops.

The iconic beer company has tweaked its signature anthem for the campaign which kicked off on Thursday 

Standing while drinking will be allowed outside, where pubs, clubs and restaurants will be allowed to welcome one patron per two square metres.

Personal services such as hairdressers can also welcome customers again, under the same four square metre rule, as can gyms and swimming pools.

Stadiums can again host events, capped at 5000 people with the four square metre rule, and up to 500 people can attend ticketed and seated outdoor events.

Visits to cinemas, theatres, museums and galleries will also be allowed, and up to 50 vaccinated guests can attend religious services, weddings and funerals.

Visits to aged care homes will also be permitted again, with limits.

However, the government will continue to recommend work-from-home arrangements where feasible, and masks will remain mandatory indoors.

Travel to regional NSW for the fully vaccinated will also be permitted.

However, the government has emphasised some restrictions on movement may still apply in areas where COVID-19 case numbers are too high. 

The new ad contains the old images but the modified lines: ‘Right now you can’t get it goalin’, you can’t get it bowlin’. You can’t get it takin’ a vow, or chasin’ a cow,’ and ‘A hard-earned thirst comes from being all over town, not from being in lockdown’.

The campaign logo features a band-aid and the slogan: ‘Let’s get back to earning a thirst’

While the fully-vaccinated will enjoy a suite of new freedoms, the unvaccinated will miss out, and will only be able to access ‘critical retail’ like supermarkets.

‘You have been warned – come forward and get vaccinated or you won’t be able to participate,’ Ms Berejiklian told reporters.

‘If at the time we open there are high case numbers in a concentrated area, it may well be that vaccinated people will be able to undertake everything on the list but within their own local community rather than having the freedom to travel.’

Ms Berejiklian reiterated these freedoms would be policed through adding a vaccination status feature to the state’s QR code check-in system.

‘If you want to go and buy something in what is regarded as a non-essential shop, you will put up the QR code and if it is not a green light saying you have been vaccinated, you won’t be welcome inside,’ she said. 

Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who calls Sydney home, lauded the plan and praised its adherence to the national plan to ease restrictions and drop domestic borders – which the premiers of Western Australia and Queensland have since distanced themselves from.

The reopening will only be for ‘vaccinated’ residents with those who have not had the jab set to miss out. Pictured: A locked down Sydneysider in Burwood

‘This plan keeps the deal, keeps the faith, with the people of Australia and the people of NSW,” he told reporters on Thursday.

‘It is a careful and a safe plan and consistent with everything set out in the national plan.’

From Saturday, lockdowns will also be lifted for parts of regional NSW deemed low risk, such as the north coast, but not for large swathes of western NSW.

Deputy Premier John Barilaro said snap lockdowns would be declared for regional areas where even one case was detected. This policy would remain in place until 70 per cent double-dose coverage.

NSW recorded 1405 new local Covid cases in the 24 hours to 8pm on Wednesday, as the government flagged an end to lockdown in several regional areas.

The death toll for the current outbreak climbed to 153 after the state recorded another five deaths – a woman in her 40s, two women in their 70s and two men in their 80s – all from Greater Sydney.  

WHAT CAN YOU DO AFTER FREEDOM DAY? 

Only fully-vaccinated people and those with medical exemptions will have access to the freedoms allowed under the Reopening NSW roadmap.

The freedoms for vaccinated adults will come into effect on the Monday after NSW hits the 70 per cent double dose target and include:

Gatherings in the home and public spaces:

· Up to five visitors will be allowed in a home where all adults are vaccinated (not including children 12 and under).

· Up to 20 people can gather in outdoor settings.

Venues including hospitality, retail stores and gyms:

· Hospitality venues can reopen subject to one person per 4sqm inside and one person per 2sqm outside, with standing while drinking permitted outside.

· Retail stores can reopen under the one person per 4sqm rule (unvaccinated people will continue to only be able to access critical retail).

· Personal services such as hairdressers and nail salons can open with one person per 4sqm, capped at five clients per premises.

· Gyms and indoor recreation facilities can open under the one person per 4sqm rule and can offer classes for up to 20 people.

· Sporting facilities including swimming pools can reopen.

Stadiums, theatres and major outdoor recreation facilities:

· Major recreation outdoor facilities including stadiums, racecourses, theme parks and zoos can reopen with one person per 4sqm, capped at 5,000 people.

· Up to 500 people can attend ticketed and seated outdoor events.

· Indoor entertainment and information facilities including cinemas, theatres, music halls, museums and galleries can reopen with one person per 4sqm or 75 per cent fixed seated capacity.

Weddings, funerals and places of worship:

· Up to 50 guests can attend weddings, with dancing permitted and eating and drinking only while seated.

· Up to 50 guests can attend funerals, with eating and drinking while seated.

· Churches and places of worship to open subject to one person per 4sqm rule, with no singing.

Travel:

· Domestic travel, including trips to regional NSW, will be permitted.

· Caravan parks and camping grounds can open.

· Carpooling will be permitted.

Non-vaccinated young people aged under 16 will be able to access all outdoor settings but will only be able to visit indoor venues with members of their household.

Employers must continue to allow employees to work from home if the employee is able to do so.

There will be revised guidance on isolation for close and casual contacts who are fully vaccinated, with details to be provided closer to the reopening date.

Masks:

· Masks will remain mandatory for all indoor public venues, including public transport, front-of-house hospitality, retail and business premises, on planes and at airports.

· Only hospitality staff will be required to wear a mask when outdoors.

· Children aged under 12 will not need to wear a mask indoors. 

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