Scots pubs flouting lockdown rules risk 'longer and longer' restrictions

Pubs and restaurants which flout lockdown rules in central Scotland are risking the prospect of "longer and longer restrictions" being imposed.

Scots pubs flouting lockdown rules risk 'longer and longer' restrictions

It has emerged that a number of establishments in Glasgow have been served with final warnings by the council after they remained open despite a blanket closure being ordered across central Scotland.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and National Clinical Director Professor Jason Leitch have appealed for establishments follow the rules - and warned a failure to do so may lead to harsher measures.

Cafes which previously served alcohol have been allowed remain open provided they end liquor sales. It has prompted some establishments to seek to class themselves in this bracket to escape closure.

But Ms Sturgeon said: "If what happens when we give a bit of flexibility, for good reason, is that everybody tries to maximise that flexibility and push the edges of it and find the loopholes to take advantage of it, unfortunately given the reasons we're having to put these restrictions in place, what that means is we will need to give less flexibility in future.

"If these restrictions are to work and therefore be in place for a shorter as opposed to a longer period of time, it involves everybody trying to work within the spirit of them.

"The spirit of them is to reduce as far as we can right now unnecessary social interaction."

All pubs and restaurants across central Scotland have been ordered to shut down under the current restrictions, which have now been extended until November 2.

Prof Leitch warned there were "public health and economic implications" of not obeying the lockdown measures.

"If you break the rules or you seek to breach the edge of the rules, rather than keep within them, you are putting yourself and other people at risk,” he said.

"But there are also economic implications of that because it inevitably will lead to longer and longer restrictions. It will have to. If the virus isn't suppressed we will need more restrictions.

"It's just a simple equation. So you have to follow the rules, whether you are a business owner or whether you are a single parent in a house trying to follow these really difficult restrictions.”

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