Over 23,000 Scots hospitality jobs at risk unless 2m rule is eased

More than 23,000 jobs could be lost in Scotland's hospitality trade without a review of the 2 metre social distancing rule, industry leaders today warned.

Social distancing has been a key factor in driving down cases of the virus

A survey conducted by the Scottish Beer & Pub Association (SPBA) in conjunction with other members of the licensed trade has revealed that Scotland’s pubs could be "decimated", if the restriction is not re-examined ahead of the provisional re-opening date of mid-July.

Nicola Sturgeon has urged caution over the prospect of easing the two metre rule amid concerns that it could lead to another spike in cases of Coronavirus.

But Boris Johnson has already pledged a review of the rule south of the border.

The survey, which covered over 300 pubs across Scotland (around 7% of the total), found that it would not be financially viable for almost nine out of ten landlords to reopen their doors if the two-metre distancing guidelines were still in place – potentially leading to the direct loss of over 23,600 jobs within the trade.

Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the Scottish Beer & Pub Association, said: “The results make for stark reading. Not only will 87 per cent of those surveyed be unable to open, those that can trade at the two-metre mark will potentially have to let 52 per cent of staff go. This would lead to over 23,600 jobs losses in our sector alone.

“Keeping a two-metre rule in place simply does not make financial sense and the fall out will see the loss of thousands of jobs affecting both the Scottish economy and local communities in the process.

“We have seen within the survey that whilst implementing a controlled environment to protect both customers and staff and dropping social distancing measures to one metre, we will see 82 per cent of licensed businesses being able to open their doors to the public and provide a much needed boost to the industry."

Many of Scotland’s key independent restaurant and pub businesses have called for a one-metre rule for social distancing in a bid to kick-start the industry and save jobs in the hospitality sector.

“What’s clear is that the majority of licensed premises will simply not be able to operate under the proposed two-metre distancing, leading to mass unemployment within the sector," Ms McClarkin added.

"We are calling upon the Scottish Government to both reassess the current measures in place if they wish to kick-start the industry and work with us to safeguard over 23,600 jobs.”

But Ms Sturgeon warned against complacency in the approach to the twpo metre restriction at her daily Coronavirus briefing on Monday.

She said: "If you’re frustrated about 2m distancing in a workplace, all I would say to address that is, I’m frustrated too. I don’t want to live like that. But we still need to have restrictions in place and exercise a degree of caution. That I’m worried enough about the implications of not doing that should tell you it’s necessary.

"The Government will not keep restrictions in place any longer than necessary. But this is a serious, serious virus and we cannot be complacent about the impact of that when we still have so much to learn. If I’m being cautious, it’s not for no reason, it’s because I don’t want to have to be reporting death numbers or case numbers for any longer than I have to."

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