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Distinguishing between pubs that have an on-site kitchen and chef and those that serve food but don’t would be ambiguous and would put more pressure on bartenders in distress, according to the executive director of the Irish Vintners Federation.
The government will reveal plans to break out of Level 5 restrictions on Friday. It is believed that the so-called wet pubs, those without food service, will have to remain closed.
When previous blocking restrictions were relaxed, some pubs introduced food service through off-site catering services or take-out deals. This time, however, the rules are expected to require that any pub that does not have a chef or kitchen on site remain closed.
Ambiguities
Padraig Cribben told BreakingNews.ie: “It’s a variation of a rule of where we were before and then you are in what constitutes a kitchen and what constitutes a chef. It will have the same ambiguities as before and create the same difficulties.
“There’s a lot of anger at the turnaround that’s happening and the concept of dividing up different types of pubs again. It is unjustified and unnecessary. “
Cribben said closing more than half of the pub population “makes it more difficult for restaurants and pubs to make food because there will be pent-up demand.”
Trust
He also said that by preventing pubs from reopening, it could lead people to settings more prone to causing Covid outbreaks, such as house parties.
Here is an example; I live about six miles from the town of Trim, there are 10,000 people in Trim, there are 13 pubs, “he said.” As far as I know, there is only one such pub that offers food.
“There will be a lot of socialization in families, and we know that many of the peaks come from there.
“They will happen in greater numbers during Christmas [gatherings], there will be no social distancing or use of masks, from a public health point of view it is a crazy policy.
“What they’re really saying is, ‘We trust the innkeeper who makes the food, we trust his staff, and we trust his customers.’ At the same time, ‘I don’t trust you because you don’t make food, I don’t trust your staff and I don’t trust your customers.’
“Where is the confidence that people act responsibly? It is really a bias that is played against the exchange. “
Agenda behind closings
He accused the Government and the Nphet of putting the future of the Irish pub industry at risk.
“December 2020 will never be as lucrative as a normal December, but it is still very important, as many pubs have not opened since last March.”
“Now it seems that 12 full months will pass without being open: no business can survive that, and it seems to us that there is an agenda or a determined decision on the part of Nphet together with some in the government, particularly the Taoiseach, to close the sector not only for Covid, but forever.
“Any business that has been closed for 12 months runs the risk of going bankrupt. They are resistant but there are bills that come in all the time, that’s what people forget.
“Although there are support, they are not enough to cover all those bills.”
50,000 jobs at risk
He said 50,000 jobs are at imminent risk, adding that publicans will lose experienced staff as they seek more stable employment.
“There are 50,000 employees who will seek safer environments, some of those key employees. It is unfair to them, it is unfair to their families and it is a major problem.”
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