Could we get a pint a lot quicker than we had originally thought?
Publicans want to reopen their bars six weeks earlier than scheduled in the government’s pandemic plan.
A radical new plan that would limit the number of people on the premises, ban live music, and make pubs table service only has now been proposed.
And bar-owners hope to convince public health authorities to let them get back to work under those arrangements from the end of June instead of August 10.
Licenced Vintners Association chief executive Donal O’Keeffe says pub owners want them to be treated the same as cafés and restaurants.
“We fully respect the need to continue to protect the public health,” he said.
“We have repeatedly proven this commitment, not least in the fact that our sector was the first to close across the country. We also believe that if other venues who serve food and alcohol are allowed to reopen in Phase 3, then pubs should be granted the same opportunity to trade.
“We don’t believe it is in any way appropriate that the Government should apply one rule for some hospitality businesses and another rule for others.”
Some of the measures the LVA are willing to put in place are:
* Bars will become dispense bars only with no sitting, standing, ordering, payment or drinking at the counter allowed
* Table service will be a requirement only customers seated at tables being served
* The numbers on the premises would be confined to no more than four per every 10 square metres
* A maximum of six people would be permitted at any one table
* Customers will be required to use hand sanitiser upon entry
* All customers must remain seated
* Staff will be fully trained in the new procedures
* The utilisation of outdoor spaces to enhance social distancing
* No live music or DJs
* Gardaí or the HSE will have the power to close any business who is flouting the public health guidelines
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