News bites are news snippets and offers from breweries across Australia and New Zealand.

The Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation Queensland announced on Thursday that licensees in the state would be allowed to accept customer vessels such as growlers and squealers for refills. This was banned in Queensland at the start of the pandemic due to food hygiene, the department said. Find out more about the Food Standards Code.

The South Australian Government is attempting to close a loophole that had the potential to allow alcohol to be sold in supermarkets. Supermarkets are technically allowed to apply for a Liquor Production and Sales licence – provided they are selling wine that they have produced. The government has proposed to close this loophole.

The South East Dark Beer Pack will be launching from 22nd May with pre-orders available now. The 16-pack includes beers from Bad Shepherd, Boatrocker, BoJaK Brewing, Exit Brewing, Kaiju, Mr Banks and Wolf of the Willows.

As restrictions start to ease, a number of venues are opening but in line with the 10-person limit. This includes Stone & Wood, Rocks Brewing Company and Modus Operandi, whose restaurant is opening from this Friday (15th May), whilst Heads of Noosa is also set to reopen, with bookings for sessions available now.

Good Beer Week has launched so check out the Virtual Festival lineup and the Trade Hub here, which includes workshops and talks on mental health, a talk from the IBA on independence and how to leverage it, as well as discussions on yeast, malt and hop breeding and processing as well as online events.

Venue restrictions are being lifted slowly but surely, so keep an eye out for different rules in each state:

NSW: Pubs offering food will be allowed open from today (May 15th) with only 10 patrons allowed inside at any one time.

Table service for alcohol with a meal will be allowed, but all venues will have to adhere to social distancing rules. Bars and gaming venues will remain closed

Takeaway services can continue to operate.

Victoria: So far there are no plans to reopen pubs and clubs before stage three of the federal government’s staged easing of restrictions, which could be set for July.

$40 million will be available to hospitality businesses from the Business Support Fund for licensed venues with turnover up to $50 million.

Queensland: Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk visited the XXXX Brewery in Milton this week to announce that more than 3,000 litres of XXXX GOLD will make its way licensed venues in the state.

Parts of outback Queensland have seen no cases of COVID-19, so outback pubs and clubs will be able to reopen for dining on 15th May.

Those pubs will be allowed 20 patrons at a time, observing social distancing.

From 11.59pm, Friday May 15th, gatherings of a maximum of 10 people together in a public space and dining at restaurants, pubs, clubs, RSLs and cafes for a maximum of 10 patrons at one time will be allowed as part of a gradual re-opening, although this does not extend to bars or gaming venues.

South Australia: Pub and venue reopenings are not planned anytime soon, but the SA Premier has indicated that next month at the second stage of the easing of restrictions, groups of up to 20 people will be allowed in venues as long as social distancing is adhered to. Outdoor dining will be allowed for restaurants and cafes.

ACT and Tasmania: Like Queensland and NSW venues in ACT and Tasmania will be allowed to open with a limit of 10 customers with social distancing rules in place.

Western Australia: From Monday (18th May) cafés and restaurants with meal service, including within pubs, bars, clubs, hotels and casino will be allowed up to 20 patrons.

Northern Territory: In the Northern Territory, restaurants, cafes and bars, will be allowed to operate with a two-hour time limit for each patron.