Scottish Hospitality Group (SHG) spokesperson Stephen Montgomery has slammed the Scottish government’s decision to modify level 0 regulations to compel hospitality to shut at midnight rather than follow local licensing rules because there’s no evidence to justify it and it came out of the blue with zero consultation with the industry.
He said, “The midnight curfew is just a made-up time with no evidence to justify it as our FOI enquiry earlier in the year proved. The government
didn’t seek our input as the people who understand how hospitality works in the real world. And we didn’t even get the courtesy of being told about this in our ongoing discussions with the government.”
He also said that government continues not to listen to our industry and that all these moves are going to achieve is move socialising back to homes which aren’t subject to regulations.
“It’s like Groundhog Day with our warnings about driving people into house parties and other uncontrolled spaces that lack all the precautions you find in responsible pubs, restaurants and hotels. The government didn’t listen last year when we cautioned them about this and they’re not listening now. The first minister also announced that 200 people can now attend weddings and funerals but late night and music venues are still hugely affected.
“The best that can be said is that level 0 is an improvement on lockdowns for most businesses. But let’s remember that late-night, wedding and music venues are still hugely affected. We have always supported sensible and proportionate public health measures. The
hospitality sector can be part of the solution not part of the problem. It’s tragic that the government doesn’t seem to see us that way.”