– A kind of funeral beer for the nightlife industry – E24

– A sad last day in the city, says Christian Nicolai Olsen.

Together with her friend Nicoline Bovind, they enjoy a beer with a round of yatzy at Youngs nightclub in Youngstorget.

– We drink a kind of funeral beer for the nightlife industry, says Bovind.

For several weeks, the city’s nightclubs have adhered to strict infection control requirements. But now these are no longer enough to reduce the infection, believes the municipality of Oslo. As of Monday, it is forbidden to pour alcohol in the capital.

– It is important for us to support an injured industry while we can. A couple of beers don’t help much, and I know being home is recommended, but we follow the infection control rules and want one last night while it’s still legal, he says.

– It’s scary with so much uncertainty

British Jõao Harrison works in the same nightclub. Since arriving in Norway three years ago, he has worked as a bartender and social media manager at the nightclub. On Monday, he and 54 Youngs colleagues will be fired.

– Being fired for the second time this year is far from the best feeling. Now I’ve been working on infection control measures since March, so I understand well why they closed and fired me, but that doesn’t improve the situation, says Harrison.

He envisions the calendar showing 2021 before he has a job to return to.

– Uncertainty is the worst. Both financially and mentally, it’s scary. You don’t know what to do tomorrow or the next few weeks or months, says Harrison.

– When income goes down, everyday life is more difficult, he says.

Goes off – again

As of Monday, much of Oslo will be closed again. Councilor Raymond Johansen (Labor Party) announced before the weekend that a total ban on alcoholic beverages, a social ban and a ban on events will be introduced in the capital.

Although the streets of Oslo are much quieter than it usually is on a Saturday night, many people have made the trip to see one last night in the city before the bar stop is introduced.

After the closure of this spring, the government did not turn on the taps again until May.

– One of the most complicated things is that you have been in a difficult situation for a long time and you implemented that what they ordered us, also closes again and they fire you again, as if it were all in vain, says Harrison.

Harrison sees a significant difference from the previous close.

– This time it is the travel, entertainment and nightlife industry that is most affected, while last time it was almost all industries. It felt better when “everyone” is in the same position. Of course they were scared too, but they were scared together, says Harrison.

Too bad they hit them so hard

Around the delicious table, Bovind and Olsen wonder if the Oslo measures cost more than they know.

– It is sad that you have to close again, but it is understandable that you do. Everyone wants to reduce the infection, but if it gets exactly right, it may be more insecure. Nightclubs are closing, but there may still be several at each other’s houses. You rarely keep a three-foot distance at home, says Olsen.

This summer, Bovind worked as a waiter, after being laid off from his job in the tourism industry.

– Then I realized that nightclubs have been very good and strict in controlling infections. Places like this are not the ones that pose the highest risk of infection, and then it’s a shame they are punished so severely, he says.

Large-scale layoffs in the nightlife industry

Several players in the nightlife industry have announced that they will close their doors starting Monday.

Nightlife group Noho Norway is laying off nearly all of its 530 employees in Oslo. The Noho Group runs Youngs, as well as nightclubs such as Kulturhuset, Prindsens Hage, Oslo Camping, Youngs and Colonel Mustard.

Noho Norway CEO Karl-Henning Svendsen told E24 on Thursday that the company will lose millions in another shutdown.

The Food & Drink group, which is behind nightclubs like Albert Bistro and Louise Restaurant and Bar in Aker Brygge, is closing both nightclubs and has laid off all 100 employees.

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