Miller Lite Donates $1,000,000 to Bartenders Who Have Been Laid-Off Amid Coronavirus

With the COVID-19 pandemic affecting jobs and livelihood, American beer brand Miller Lite is donating $1 million to laid-off bartenders. This is following the forced shutdown of bars and restaurants around the country in order to limit the spread of the coronavirus.

“Taps are off. But tips are needed,” says the text in a video that the company posted on Twitter. “Click to donate to the millions out of work. We’ll start with $1,000,000.” The tweet had a link to the United States Bartenders Guild (USBG) National Charity Foundation

“COVID-19 Can't Beat Us Down!” wrote the USBG National Charity Foundation on the website. “With the turmoil and uncertainty created but the spreading COVID-19 virus, the service industry, and the beverage industry in particular, is being hit hard. The closure of bars, restaurants, and venues means that these vital members of our community are no longer able to earn wages and take home tips,” said the USBG.

“It is imperative that we as an inclusive, amazing, extended beverage industry community, make sure that our bartenders can go back to serving drinks once all of this is over,” it added.

Fox News reported that in addition to the pledge from Miller, “the USBG said that the Irish whiskey company Jameson has pledged to match dollar-for-dollar donations until March 31 up to a maximum of $100,000.”

This is not the first time that Miller Lite showed its kindheartedness. In 2010, Miller Lite donated $200,000 to Operation Homefront – “a nonprofit that supports needy U.S. troops, wounded soldiers and their families with emergency and morale assistance,” as reported by HuffPost.