Two days left: still very quiet about the liquor stop

Of: Matilda Aprea Malmqvist

Published: January 13, 2021 at 8:42 p.m.
Updated: January 13, 2021 at 9:20 p.m.

There are two days left at the liquor stand at 8:00 p.m. And yet there is no new message from the government.

Now, many hopeful restaurants have started announcing table reservations after 8pm this weekend. Social Affairs Minister Lena Hallengren understands that restaurateurs want to know.

– We cannot give information so far in advance, he says.

The stricter prohibition of alcohol came into force on December 24 and will apply until January 15, 2021. “Thereafter, the prohibition of serving alcohol after 1:00 p.m. 22.00 again valid until the end of February 2021. “It says on the government website.

The government has not yet released information on whether the ban will be extended or will return at 10 p.m.

At the same time, the infection curve is skyrocketing and the number of hospital admissions with covid-19 is now more than ever.

Photo: Fredrik Sandberg / TT / TT NEWS AGENCY

Social Affairs Minister Lena Hallengren understands that restaurateurs want to know.

With just two days left until the ban, several hopeful restaurateurs have started announcing that they can reserve a table after 8pm this weekend. One of them is the traditional Tennstopet restaurant in Stockholm. Jimmie Rundqvist, the restaurant’s cellar manager, has not heard anything new about what applies and says they have opened the table reservation after 8pm on Saturday, with caution.

– It’s terrible that they haven’t told us anything, the whole industry is waiting to be told what it will be like, says Jimmie Rundqvist.

It says that normally 14 days are applied when changing staff schedules and that the government does not take into account either staff or activities when delaying a message.

– It is a pandemic, but the information that applies to an entire industry must arrive on time and not a day before. How should we be able to plan? says Jimmie Rundqvist.

If the alcohol ban continues to apply at 8:00 p.m., he believes there will be devastating consequences for the industry.

– Then we will have to notify and fire people again.

Lena Hallengren: We will give information

Social Affairs Minister Lena Hallengren says she understands that restaurateurs want to know.

Many restaurateurs wait for information and are angry that they are not allowed to know, what can you tell them?

– We understand that and we will give you information. We remain in a very dire situation in terms of the spread of infection, pressure on care, hospitalizations and intensive care units. We must constantly weigh the measures we take. I can only assure you that it is not something we take lightly. We understand that there are many who pay a high price and that it is as much about human health in different contexts, as well as financially and what it means when you cannot do the business you normally do. I understand that. But I can’t give a message here and now.

How should taverns be planned, is it not very nice to give a message the same day or the day before?

– We cannot give information so far in advance, because then it means that we do not really take into account what the situation is like. We want to try to make the best and most current assessment possible. And we will come back to this, but not exactly this minute.

But as you say, the situation is very tense, more now than when the ban came. Can it then be assumed that it would be reasonable to extend the ban?

– I will not give a message here and now, but we will give a message.

Before Friday?

– I do not give you a message now but it is clear that it does not make much sense to notify you if the other has expired.

Published: January 13, 2021 at 8:42 p.m.

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