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SINGAPORE: A total of 23 food and beverage outlets were found to be in breach of safe management measures for COVID-19 during compliance checks conducted by government agencies over the past weekend, it said on Tuesday (September 15) the Ministry of Sustainability and Environment (MSE).
These gaps involved groups of more than five people sitting together or interspersed between tables, as well as outlets that served and allowed alcohol consumption after 10:30 p.m.
At an F&B establishment, law enforcement officers found beer served in metal kettles after 11 p.m.
Government agencies conducted additional patrols of night spots on September 12 and 13 as part of intensified checks to verify compliance with safe handling measures for COVID-19, MSE said. A total of 149 food and beverage establishments were inspected at “known hotspots”.
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ALCOHOL SERVED IN TEAPOTS AT F&B OUTLET
A restaurant on Orchard Road was found to have served alcoholic beverages in metal kettles to 13 customers after 11 p.m.
“Investigations revealed that the kettles contained beer, and the beer bottles sold by the restaurant were hidden in the bottom of the refrigerator to store beverages,” MSE said.
Law enforcement officers also visited another food and beverage establishment on Orchard Road around midnight and heard loud conversations from the closed facility.
They “managed to enter” the establishment after issuing verbal warnings to the operator to open the door, and found six customers sitting separately inside the premises with no signs of drinks on their table.
However, CCTV footage showed that customers were drinking just before officers arrived, and that customers and the owner had removed the glasses and hidden the alcohol bottle just before opening the door.
Other violations included an F&B establishment in Chinatown accepting a reservation of 10 customers and seating the group at two tables in a private dining room.
“When asked, the store staff claimed that the people at the two tables did not know each other,” MSE said.
A group of 15 people was also seen at another F&B establishment on Boat Quay. Customers were seated at four tables for a pre-planned dinner and were mingling, MSE said.
Another F&B establishment in Jurong East was also found to have allowed eight customers to sit together at a long table within the facility.
An F&B location in Jurong East was found to allow eight customers to sit together at a long table within the facility. (Photo: Ministry of Sustainability and Environment)
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MSE did not name any of the 23 food and beverage establishments that breached security measures.
“Agencies are reviewing violations and appropriate enforcement actions will be taken, including temporary closure of outlets and issuance of fines. More details will be provided when ready,” the ministry said.
“COVID-19 FOLLOWS A SERIOUS THREAT”
These heightened enforcement controls involved officers from seven government agencies, including those of the Singapore Police, MSE said.
The other government agencies include the National Parks Board, the National Environment Agency, the Urban Redevelopment Authority, the Singapore Food Agency, the Singapore Tourism Board, and the Singapore Land Authority.
The checks are in addition to routine inspections carried out daily at food and beverage outlets, including cafeterias and street vending centers, throughout Singapore. More than 3,000 inspections of food and beverage establishments were carried out over the weekend, MSE said.
“COVID-19 continues to be a serious threat. Dining out is an activity that involves considerable risks because it involves gathering in closed spaces, without masks and for a long time,” said MSE.
He added that while most food and beverage operators and facility owners ensure that safe management measures are properly implemented, there are still food and beverage establishments that continue to violate these measures.
In a Facebook post, Sustainability and Environment Minister Grace Fu urged F&B operators and sponsors to observe safe management measures.
“We must do what we can to contain the spread of the virus, safeguard public health and livelihoods, and help Singapore return to a COVID-free world,” he said.
MSE said government agencies will continue to intensify compliance checks to ensure food and beverage establishments are in compliance with COVID-19 safety measures and that it will not hesitate to take “strong compliance measures” if measures are breached.
“We would like to remind food and beverage operators and premises owners that violations of safe management measures are a serious crime … We also urge all members of the public to be socially responsible and observe safe management measures “, said.
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