A COVID-19 safe distancing ambassador on the job in Singapore.
SINGAPORE: Singapore is stepping up enforcement of COVID-19 safe management measures to ensure compliance by nightlife operators who have pivoted to the food and beverage industry.
This is because breaches by such establishments are “flagrant” and carry much higher public health risks, said the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE) on Friday (May 14).
With effect from May, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) will revoke the food licences of non-compliant former nightlife operators in the F&B industry who commit egregious breaches of safe management measures.
Establishments that lose their food licence must cease operations with immediate effect until the nightlife sector is allowed to reopen, or until their reapplication for a new food licence is approved, said MSE.
Nightlife operators that intend to operate F&B establishments must file a “change of use” application, with immediate effect, with the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) to obtain planning permission to convert their premises.
They must submit a proposed business concept or operational details, a layout plan showing usage of the premises and plans to remove any “bar-related signages or paraphernalia” for URA’s assessment.
Nightlife operators who received URA’s earlier endorsement to temporarily pivot to F&B operations must now apply for change of use by the end of the one-year validity of these endorsements, said MSE.
Nightlife establishments can continue to apply for a grant of up to S$50,000 from Enterprise Singapore to defray qualifying costs incurred during the change of use process. The support is available until Sep 30.
MSE added that government agencies will also take other enforcement measures within their regulatory ambit, such as revoking the public entertainment licence or liquor licence.
MORE THAN 400 NIGHTLIFE OPERATORS PIVOTED
Nightlife establishments including bars, clubs, discos and karaoke lounges have not been allowed to operate in their original form since March last year, but have been able to temporarily pivot to F&B businesses since October.
To date, 406 nightlife operators have received SFA’s food shop or snack counter licence and temporarily pivoted to F&B operations, said MSE.
However, some establishments continue to operate nightlife activities that are currently prohibited and flagrantly flout safe management measures in the process, said MSE.
These breaches include failing to prevent large groups of patrons from intermingling, employing hostesses and allowing live entertainment and games.
The vast majority of repeated egregious breaches have been committed by recently pivoted nightlife establishments, said MSE.
The ministry listed nine of such nightlife establishments that have been caught at least twice for egregious breaches: MZS Family Karaoke, Club Peaches, Club One Min, Club Mao by Barcode, The Drinks Emporium, Hooha Restaurant & Cafe, Cheers Up, Alive @ Sg Pub and Destiny Japanese KTV.
Safe management measures must be strictly adhered to, “otherwise we could well face a resurgence of community transmission which will disrupt our lives and livelihoods”, said MSE.
“We have seen how nightlife activities in other countries have led to super spreader events. We must all do our part to prevent this from occurring in Singapore,” the ministry added.
Singapore on Friday announced tighter measures to stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus in the community, including a reduction of the limit on group sizes from five to two people.
Dining-in at F&B establishments will also not be allowed under the new measures, which will be in place from May 16 through Jun 13.
MORE F&B OUTLETS CLOSED, FINED FOR BREACHES
Government agencies have ordered 10 F&B outlets to close over breaches of safe management measures, said MSE.
Six of them are nightlife operators which have pivoted to F&B operations.
They include Destiny Japanese KTV at Cuppage Plaza, which failed to minimise interaction between staff and customers on May 7. As the establishment is a repeat offender, it has been ordered to close for 30 days from May 8.
MZS Family Karaoke at Ming Arcade allowed customers to consume alcohol after 10.30pm on May 8. As a repeat offender, it has been ordered to close for 20 days from May 9.
Three more establishments were ordered to close for 10 days each.
Club Illusion and English Football Museum at River Valley Road allowed intermingling between groups of customers and gatherings of more than eight people on Apr 23. Club Illusion will be temporarily closed from May 6 while English Football Museum will temporarily suspend operations from May 8.
Haru at Central Mall allowed gatherings of more than eight people on May 7. URA has ordered it to temporarily close from May 9.
One 4 D’Road Bar at Far East Shopping Centre allowed entry to freelance hostesses who were not employees of the bar, failed to minimise interaction between these hostesses and customers, and screened music videos to customers on May 8. STB has ordered it to temporarily close from May 9.
