Burger King could become the first fast food chain to sell alcohol in its UK restaurants.

The popular eatery plans to sell American beers in plastic bottles from this month onwards. The beverages are only to be consumed on restaurant premises.

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It has applied for drinks licences at just four branches so far, in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Blackpool, Hull and Bury St Edmunds. If granted, Burger King will be able to sell alcohol from 10am to 11pm seven days a week, and could apply for licences nationwide. There are more than 654 Burger King restaurants in the UK.

Burger King already sells alcohol in some parts of the US, Singapore, Venezuela and Spain through its’ kiosk-style Whopper Bars.

A spokeswoman for Burger King in Britain said: “We’re just catching up with the rest of the world, really.”

Rivals McDonald’s also serve alcohol at some of its European branches.

However, a message on the McDonald’s UK website says: “It isn’t something that we have experienced customer demand for or something that fits with the family-friendly focus of our restaurants in the UK.”