The Irish government has called on all bars and pubs in the country to close to help curb the spread of coronavirus (covid-19).
In a statement, the government said, “Following discussions with the Licenced Vintners Association (LVA) and the Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI), the government is now calling on all public houses and bars (including hotel bars) to close until at least 29 March. The LVA and VFI outlined the real difficulty in implementing the published guidelines on social distancing in a public house setting, as pubs are specifically designed to promote social interaction in a situation where alcohol reduces personal inhibitions.
“The government will continue to monitor the situation, including the compliance of all pubs with this request, as well as any further or different measures which might be required in the future. The effectiveness of the guidelines on social distancing in other parts of the hospitality and leisure industry, for example restaurants and cinemas, will also be kept under review and subject to further consultation with stakeholders in the coming days.”
It comes as licensees in Dublin’s Temple Bar announced a complete shutdown of all bars and nightclubs with immediate effect. The move means no bars will be open in the area for St Patrick’s Day. The decision was taken voluntarily.
