Pub owners caution that too strict guidelines on ‘wet pubs’ will not be accepted

Bar owners caution that strict rules specifically targeting “wet bars” will not be accepted when they reopen.

The warning comes amid reports that the government is considering allowing all pubs to reopen by the middle of this month.

Stakeholders are understood to be developing draft guidelines.

The Licensed Vintners Association has said that all hospitality businesses must be subject to the same guidelines and restrictions.

Speaking at Newstalk tonight, Donal O’Keefe, executive director of the Licensed Vintners Association, says the public also has a responsibility when it comes to reopening pubs:

There are two parties that have responsibility here, clearly the innkeeper has a great responsibility to make sure that the place meets all the guidelines, but also the public, our customers, must comply with those guidelines.

“From what we’ve seen in our pubs serving food that have reopened, compliance from both the innkeepers and our customers has been extremely high, and we hope it will continue to be the case for wet pubs.”