Curfew announced for hospitality
The NI Executive has announced an 11pm curfew for the hospitality sector here as the battle to curb Covid-19 continues.
The new measure, which came into effect from midnight Wednesday, had been widely expected. It means that no alcohol can be served in venues after 10.30pm and everyone must be asked to leave by 11pm.
Many operators had been concerned that the curfew would be set at 10pm and while Colin Neill from trade body, Hospitality Ulster (HU) pointed out that trade would be lost, he welcomed the later curfew time and acknowledged that health ‘has to come first’.
‘A curfew is not ideal, but we in the hospitality sector will do all we can to make this work, which hopefully will only be a temporary measure,’ he added.
Announcing the new restriction, First Minister, Arlene Foster recognised that there was a risk that when drinkers left pubs and restaurants, they would continue to socialise together at private houses. She also warned, however, that gatherings such as these would be illegal and that rules would be enforced. Mrs Foster also said that the level of fines available for use against those who flouted the rules was under review.
Traditional pubs re-opened last Wednesday (September 25) after six months of lockdown and many traders had feared that a 10pm curfew would be introduced.
