Representatives of the drinks industry have set out a series of “radical proposals” aimed at getting the country’s pubs open sooner than planned by the Government.

The Licensed Vintners’ Association (LVA) and the Vintners’ Federation of Ireland (VFI) have accepted an invitation to discuss the roadmap for easing restrictions with the Government.

They will be pushing for pubs to be allowed to open at the same time as restaurants and cafés.

They have put together a series of measures aimed at protecting public health after they open their doors.

• Sitting, standing, ordering, paying or drinking at the bar itself will be banned.
• Pubs will only serve customers seated at tables.
• No more than four people per every 10 square metres in the premises.
• A maximum of 6 people would be permitted at any one table.
• Customers will be required to use hand sanitiser upon entry.
• All customers must remain seated.
• Staff will be fully trained in the new procedures.
• Staff will also be asked to maintain a safe distance from customers when taking orders and to wash their hands thoroughly every 30 minutes.
• Pubs will make full use of outdoor spaces to support social distancing.
• New procedures for the safe use of toilet facilities, potentially including limits on the number of people using them at a time.
• No live music or DJs.
• The Gardaí and the HSE given the power to close any business flouting public health guidelines.

The organisations are calling for strict protocols on social distancing for staff and customers to be developed for all hospitality business in conjunction with the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) and the Department of Health.

The protocols would be reviewed on an ongoing basis with a view to returning to normal trading as soon as it is safe.

Pubs shuttered up in Temple Bar on Day 25 of the lockdown, 21-04-2020. Image: Sam Boal/RollingNews

LVA Chief Executive Donall O’Keefe said publicans “fully respect the need to continue to protect the public health.”

“We have repeatedly proven this commitment, not least in the fact that our sector was the first to close across the country,” he said.

“We also believe that if other venues who serve food and alcohol are allowed to reopen in Phase Three, then pubs should be granted the same opportunity to trade.

“We don’t believe it is in any way appropriate that the Government should apply one rule for some hospitality businesses and another rule for others.”

The Phil Lynnot statue outside Bruxelles Pub wears a mask, 19-03-2020. Image: RollingNews

He said there is “no doubt that the pub experience as we know it will have to change dramatically.”

“Many pubs may choose not to reopen as it simply won’t be financially viable under these conditions,” he said.

“However, for those who want to trade, these measures will have the essential impact of protecting the health and wellbeing of staff and customers alike.”

VFI Chief Executive Padraig Cribben said the current roadmap is untenable and will lead to confusion in the hospitality sector.

“The public health restrictions will present real challenges to all hospitality venues, it doesn’t matter if they are a pub, a restaurant, a café or a hotel,” he said.

“There is no denying that and there is no getting around it.  Addressing those public health requirements will be necessary for all hospitality businesses whenever they reopen.”

He said pubs across the country are “up to the challenge” and committed to doing everything needed to maintain a safe and healthy place of business.