Cafes will be able to open in shutdown
CAFES with an alcohol licence will be able to open during the two- week shutdown as long as they don’t sell alcohol, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said.
She said it has been considered and guidance will be issued to those affected.
On Wednesday it was announced that all licensed premised had to close from this evening – which would mean bars, restaurants and cafes which are licensed to sell alcohol.
However, Sturgeon responded to a question from Labour MSP Jackie Baillie, who asked if cafes could still open if they do not sell alcohol.
Baillie said that many cafes whose business is “99% food and only 1% alcohol” would be forced to close.
Sturgeon said she was glad of the opportunity to give clarification.
She said: “Cafes will be able to open whether they are licensed or not licensed as long as they don’t sell alcohol.”
Sturgeon said regulations would be published today which will include exemptions for cafes.
Many cafes in Glasgow would have been affected by the rule.
It means they can open from 6am to 6pm for food and drink as long as no alcohol is sold – even if they have a licence to do so.
However, there is no clear distinction in a licence whether the premises is a cafe, restaurant or bar.
While there may be a difference in the business’s operating plan, the licence does not distinguish between them.
Businesses are awaiting further clarification as to who can open and who cannot.
The Scottish Licensed Trade Association said yesterday: “Unfortunately, confusion and surprise on this new development. We have to wait for clarification on this.”
Sturgeon also gave the latest coronavirus statistics which showed for the second day in a row more than 1000 new cases in Scotland.
There were 1027 new positive cases – and 405 were in the Greater Glasgow area.
There were five deaths and 377 people in hospital, an increase of 58, with 31 in intensive care – an increase of 3.
Sturgeon was asked by Labour leader Richard Leonard why business leaders and unions were not consulted before the announcement to close pubs and restaurants in the central belt.
The First Minister said: “It is an impossible, almost, balance to strike.
“We are – to the best of our ability – balancing jobs on the one hand and lives on the other.
“I don’t get up in the morning and decide to close pubs for a policy reason. It’s a difficult balance to strike.
“We are in a global pandemic trying to save lives and balance that with the economy as best we can.”