Pubs and restaurants face curfew if infection rates grow
PUBS and restaurants face strict curfew measures if Covid-19 cases continue to surge across Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon has warned.
The First Minister yesterday refused to rule out imposing curfews, claiming the measure remains ‘under review’ amid fears over the continued spread of coronavirus.
UK ministers are exploring whether a 10pm or 11pm curfew on the hospitality industry would help curb the virus as has been witnessed in other European countries.
However, serious concerns have been raised by the sector, with fears it would cause significant ‘harm and damage’ to businesses.
Hospitality chiefs have warned that forcing businesses to close could spark a surge in illegal house parties and raves.
At the end of July, a curfew was imposed in Antwerp, Belgium, to contain a rise in infection rates. All pubs, restaurants and cafes were ordered to close by 11pm, with residents to be in their homes between 11.30pm and 6am.
As cases fell, the curfew was eased before being scrapped last month.
Speaking at her daily briefing yesterday, Miss Sturgeon said: ‘I can’t stand here and rule anything categorically out.
‘We see other countries that have introduced curfews on hospitality, including Belgium, which they think have had an impact.
‘These are all things that we have to keep under review. But I don’t want to have to do any of these things.
‘It comes back to the key point – the way to try to avoid further severe restrictions is to abide rigidly to the ones in place right now.’
A recent poll revealed that a majority of Scots believe pubs should be forced to close at 9pm in a bid to control the virus.
YouGov found that 71 per cent of people in Scotland would support the measure, with 39 per cent ‘strongly in favour’ of an enforced 9pm closing time.
However, hospitality bosses have warned that imposing a strict curfew would cause significant harm to pubs and restaurants, which were forced to ‘hibernate’ during lockdown.
Kate Nicholls, chief executive of
UK Hospitality, said: ‘Pubs and restaurants are working extremely hard and taking every precaution to keep everyone safe, ensure social distancing is maintained and deliver effective test and trace data capture in venues. Our sector is very willing in taking these important steps to help tackle Covid, and is doing so at great expense.
‘It is difficult to see how an arbitrary 9pm curfew could help. What is more certain is the very serious harm and damage it will do to businesses, which have already taken a battering, and the impact on jobs, which again is already very significant.’
The sector was given the go-ahead to reopen in July following UK-wide closures, but fears have been raised that 12,500 jobs could be lost in Scotland.
The licensed trade industry currently employs 50,000 Scots – but bosses fear up to 25 per cent could be axed as a result of lockdown and reduced opening hours.
A spokesman for the Scottish Beer and Pub Association said: ‘Talk of a curfew is very worrying when the industry is struggling to get back on its feet.
‘For many premises, trade fell off a cliff following the introduction of the ban on background music and noise from TVs, and further restrictive measures announced last week are also having a cooling effect.
‘In our view, a curfew would result in more of Scotland’s much loved pubs closing and we hope to work closely with government to explore alternatives to that.
‘A curfew is a blunt instrument that will likely displace activity into private households where there are no mitigation measures, instead of pubs which have a legal obligation to provide a safe environment.’
‘Serious harm to businesses’