Closing time can be any time – as long as it’s not after 22:00
Pubs and restaurants that can sell alcohol under new level 2 lockdown measures are confused over operating hours.
Pubs and restaurants that can sell alcohol onsite are confused over operating times as their closing time clashes with curfew hours.
Under level 2, people are not allowed to be out in public from 22:00 until 04:00.
Under the same regulations, however, establishments such as bars and restaurants are allowed to trade until 22:00.
Several alcohol trading places reported sacrificing trading hours to avoid employees from possibly serving jail time.
They reported having to close an hour before 22:00 so that employees do not breach the curfew.
Stefan Engelbrecht, of Die Kantoor bar, said their sales suffered negatively as they closed at 21:00 so that people can get home in time and not break the curfew.
“Most of our sales, about 50% of them only start to pick up at 22:00. So having to close before that affects a huge chunk of our sales. But we have to close earlier despite regulations allowing us to trade until then,” he said.
“I am also fearing for our customers as some might not want to leave before 22:00 and might get arrested.”
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Jo Botha, of Thirsty Jo’s Pub and Grill, said the curfew time and the trading hours were confusing.
“We close at 21:00 so that our employees and the customers can get home before the curfew time.”
Botha said although the closure before the set time affected sales, many pubs choose to close early to try and not be placed back under strict lockdown.
“If people break the law, we fear pubs being closed again, basically we follow the saying of 10% of something is better than 100% of nothing,” he said.
Grafters Tavern owner Mirla Carstens said she opted to let her employees go home at about 20:30 for them not to get arrested.
“We cannot take chances and have our staff and customers arrested; therefore, we have to sacrifice time for the safety of our employees.”
Cogta spokesperson Mlungisi Mtshali said the 22:00 deadline for restaurants was set to allow the restaurant to have enough time to trade.
“We are saying restaurants bars, restaurants can decide on their closing time, but it must not be after 22:00. To try and meet the curfew the restaurants are at the liberty to trade, but not beyond 22:00,” he said.
“We must remember we have restaurants operating inside hotels and others outside, many complained of the time allowed for trading. We extended this, but said it must not be beyond the curfew; they can decide when they will close, but it must be within the prescribed trading hours.
“The government has no intentions to keep lockdown any longer; however, this will be guided by our actions as the public to act responsibly. If there is an improvement with the rate of infections through greater compliance, the government will consider a later curfew. It is in our interest to end the lockdown sooner rather than later.”
According to the regulations, alcohol can also be served by licensed establishments such as restaurants, bars and taverns daily from 06:00 to 22:00.
These establishments can only operate with a maximum of 50 patrons so long as health and hygiene protocols are observed.
These include a 1.5m distance between the patrons, the sanitisation of surfaces, the washing of hands and the wearing of masks.
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