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SINGAPORE – Thirty-two diners will be fined $ 300 each for disobeying Covid-19 rules at food and beverage outlets, such as not wearing a mask immediately after eating or drinking, mingling between tables, and sitting at groups of more than five people.
In addition, eight more food and beverage outlets were ordered to close and 14 were also fined, the Ministry of Sustainability and Environment (MSE) said on Tuesday (September 29).
The ministry warned that the government will continue to intensify compliance checks at Singapore’s food and beverage establishments “to ensure that they remain safe spaces for all” and reminded diners to be socially responsible.
“Agencies will not hesitate to take compliance actions against both customers and facilities that do not comply with safe handling measures,” said MSE.
This comes after the government said on September 9 that food and drink establishments and diners who violate safe management measures will be penalized for even the first offense rather than just receiving a warning.
That same day, the Urban Redevelopment Authority said that 17 people who failed to abide by the rule of a maximum of five people in a group at various food and beverage outlets were fined, and more were investigated at the time.
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In Tuesday’s update, MSE said that among the eight food and beverage outlets ordered to close are Siam Square Mookata on Punggol Point Road, the Tanjong Pagar branch of Korean fried chicken chain Chicken Up and Cafe de Muse in Shaw House.
Some common gaps found at the eight outlets included the sale and consumption of alcohol after 10:30 pm and diners at various tables intermingling and sharing food.
Another 14 outlets were fined for violating safe management measures, 13 fined $ 1,000 and one, a repeat offender, $ 2,000.
Some crimes committed by these outlets were admitting and seating groups of more than five and failing to ensure that food handlers wear their masks correctly.
The MSE added that government agencies conducted additional inspections at 240 food and beverage outlets last Friday and Saturday.
Of these, 15 were found to have violated safe management measures.
The agencies are reviewing infractions and appropriate enforcement actions to be taken, including the temporary closure of outlets and the issuance of fines.
