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Sweden is moving towards darker times in terms of the spread of the infection. This was stated by Prime Minister Stefan Löfven on Wednesday when the government presented its latest movement against the corona pandemic; a stop to serve alcohol after 10 pm. It is proposed to submit the application from November 20 to the last of February.
The motivation is that Restaurants and bars are environments where people run the risk of getting closer than appropriate, given the risk of infection. While both restaurants and guests have a responsibility to keep their distance, it is environmental administrations across the country that must ensure through inspections that this is also the case in practice.
– We go out every weekend, afternoon, day, night. We will also be this weekend, says Pia Gustafsson, unit manager for environmental stewardship in Gothenburg.
– Then we will see if there are many people outside. But we have the same staff as before, he says.
Nor in Stockholm the number of inspectors or inspections will be greater than usual. When DN, on Thursday, speaks with Monika Gerdhem in the environmental administration of the capital, she says:
– This came last night. We haven’t had time to think about whether it could lead to a setback this weekend.
In both cities, inspectors feel that taverns and tavern guests understand why it is so important to follow current restrictions, but that there are no guarantees yet.
– As for the guests, we see that the later and the more alcohol people drink, the worse they become to keep their distance, says Pia Gustafsson.
Both her and her her colleague in Stockholm, Monika Gerdhem, thinks it is good that the service times are more frugal during the winter.
– People lose their minds when they drink too much. And it’s hard for restaurateurs to say no. The environment itself invites you to sit and it is easy to forget yourself, says Monika Gerdhem.
Although no one can say how the restaurant will play next weekend, they both express both hope and belief that everyone takes responsibility.
If that’s the best case, what is the worst case?
– The worst thing is if you see it as one last chance to have fun in large groups before restaurants start closing earlier in the evening. That you gather the whole gang of friends and go out in large groups. They’ll probably have a lot of fun, but it can get crowded and that’s exactly what we want to avoid, says Pia Gustafsson in Gothenburg.
Read more: Relief and anger in the restaurant industry after the news of the alcohol ban
