Is the Eat Out to Help Out scheme encouraging unhealthy eating?

A New Statesman analysis estimates at least 10,667 of the restaurants currently registered are fast food outlets.

A cardboard cut out of Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson stands behind a sign promoting the British Government's "Eat out to Help out" coronavirus scheme to get consumers spending again, inside the restaurant 'Spaghetti House' in London on August 3, 2020, - Britain's "Eat out to Help out" scheme began Monday, introduced last month by Chancellor Rishi Sunak to help boost the economy claw its way from a historic decline sparked by the coronavirus crisis. (Photo by Tolga AKMEN / AFP) (Photo by TOLGA AKMEN/AFP via Getty Images)

When pubs, restaurants and cafes reopened on 4 July, data showed that most Britons were still reluctant to leave their homes even as authorities assured them it was safe to do so.

In order to encourage punters back through the doors, Chancellor Rishi Sunak launched the Eat Out to Help Out scheme, which offers diners 50 per cent off food and non-alcoholic drinks (up to £10 per person) at restaurants from Monday to Wednesday throughout August.

Restaurant bookings and walk-ins compared to the same day of the same week in 2019