New guidelines for the operation of so-called “wet pubs” contain few if any new restrictions on their operation, compared to pubs serving food. The Government expects to reopen all pubs by the middle of the month, amid ongoing criticism from vintners’ groups over the impact of the forced closure of wet pubs on the trade. Pubs groups gave a guarded welcome to the draft guidelines. Padraig Cribben, chief executive of the Vintners’ Federation of Ireland, said there should be a level playing field between regulations governing wet pubs and those that serve food. Donal O’Keeffe, the chief executive of the Licensed Vintners’ Association, said the new guidelines still represented a “huge restriction” on normal ways of doing business.

Source: The Irish Times September 06, 2020 15:22 UTC