Covid Scotland: 'Hammer blow' for businesses as events cancelled and table service returns

Businesses in Scotland will suffer “another hammer blow” as new restrictions come into force after Christmas, industry leaders have said.

Large-scale events will be cancelled from December 26 and new rules will enforce social distancing at hospitality and leisure services.

Events will be limited to 100 people standing indoors, 200 seated, and 500 people seated or standing outdoors.

Venues serving alcohol will be forced to return to table service, and hospitality and leisure businesses will be required to keep a one metre distance between different groups of customers.

A customer sits with his beer in Jackson's Bar in the city centre of Glasgow on October 8, 2020. Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP via Getty Images

The Scottish Chambers of Commerce called the new rules a “hammer blow” for employers and Scotland’s economy.