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Publicans have criticized what they describe as a “crazy” new law that requires restaurants and pubs that serve food to record all individual food orders and keep the information for 28 days.
The Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI), which represents rural publicans, said the temporary rule, contained in a statutory instrument introduced today, is “bureaucracy gone mad.”
“This is crazy,” said Padraig Cribben, VFI CEO.
“The idea that a pub should record all the food ordered by each customer and then store it for 28 days is a crazed bureaucracy.
“Not only is it too impractical for our members to implement it, but why does the government think this law will help in the fight against Covid? It’s crazy.”
Cribben said the requirement will add a huge burden to companies that are already struggling.
“We are all in favor of making customers feel safe in our pubs, but this new measure only increases the pressure on staff who already face a number of new security measures,” he said.
The VFI chief said the measure had been introduced without any consultation with the industry and shows a lack of understanding.
The legal instrument presented today also includes the extension of the closing hours of pubs until 11:30 p.m.
Noel Anderson, incoming president of the Dublin-based Licensed Vintners Association, also condemned the new regulation.
Seriously @Failte_Ireland????
This is ridiculous. Think about the administrative burden this will create.How will you help protect public health by knowing what topping was on a customer’s pizza or how their potatoes were cooked?
Complete overreach. 1984 here we go. pic.twitter.com/oOIjd7LQbI
– LVA (@LVADublinPubs) September 3, 2020
The managing director of The Bridge and Lemon & Duke pubs in Dublin city center told RTÉ’s Drivetime: “Right now, if you don’t laugh, you’ll just start crying. For me it’s a step too far, it’s just a sham.
“We are one of the lucky ones that we have the technology to automatically record information, but many smaller bars and restaurants don’t. So you are creating a mountain of paperwork for them.
“The guards are pretty busy so I don’t know who is going to enforce this. We got an email from a line this morning, it was lightning out of nowhere.
“It will mean additional staff, I would almost need another person full time. And this at a time when hospitality is on its knees.”
When asked about the new Stay and Spend plan, Anderson said it was too complicated. “I don’t think it’s good for the city of Dublin. And you can’t put bums on the seats in the bars that stay closed.
“It seems that politicians want to be seen doing something.”
Anderson added: “Business is extremely difficult at the moment, but mentally it is good for me to be active and negotiate. Every day I accept phone calls from innkeepers who are suffering a lot, mentally.
“We need a lot more help from the government for the pub and hospitality sector.”
When asked if the new roadmap that was planned for mid-September would set the stage for the reopening of wet bars, he replied: “Well, we certainly hope so, but there are no guarantees. If there was a specific date for the reopening , it would be some relief. “
The new guidelines not only require that a record be kept of all foods ordered, but details must also be retained for @GardaTraffic inspection for 28 days. Safety comes first, but this is over the top! @Failte_Ireland https://t.co/Hx4qcvECm6 https://t.co/EOQLq6ovoG
– VFI (@VFIpubs) September 3, 2020
Fianna Fáil TD and party spokesman on tourism Marc MacSharry sent correspondence to the Taoiseach and other ministers tonight asking them to alter what he said were the “Stasi” as new guidelines.
Private correspondence seen by RTÉ News indicated that the new regulations were a “step too far.”
MacSharry, who also spoke on Drivetime, said: “No one wants to risk the long-fought achievements in the fight against Covid, but asking what someone had for dinner is unnecessary nonsense.
“It is time for the voice of entrepreneurs to be heard … frankly, this rule is ridiculous in the extreme.”
Fianna Fáil Senator Ollie Crowe said on Twitter: “Businesses have enough challenges right now without this bureaucratic bullshit. The government needs to take action today and get this under control.”
Rural independent TD Mattie McGrath, who opposed the legislation, said the new regulations cannot be enforced.
Labor justice spokesman Brendan Howlin said it was an extreme measure to have pubs and restaurants keep records of people’s meals, given that there is no scientific evidence that eating food reduces the risk of Covid-19.
A 16 million euro package of measures announced by the cabinet to help “wet bars” has been roundly criticized by the industry as inappropriate.
Meanwhile, a group of innkeepers from Co Monaghan today launched a billboard campaign calling for the reopening of pubs that don’t serve food.
Additional information: Mícheál Lehane
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