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Late-night intimacy to blame for pub curfew, says health minister

Lord Bethell said 'late night intimacy' had been occurring at pubs that did not follow the rules -  Yui Mok/PA
Lord Bethell said 'late night intimacy' had been occurring at pubs that did not follow the rules - Yui Mok/PA
Coronavirus Article Bar with counter
Coronavirus Article Bar with counter

Late-night intimacy is to blame for the Government’s decision to impose a 10pm curfew on  pubs, a health minister has suggested.

Lord Bethell, a minister in the House of Lords, said establishments that follow the rules are unlikely to "present a threat".

"But not all pubs abide by those disciplines. Mass crowding either inside or outside and late-night intimacy, mixed groups,” he said.

“This is where the disease spreads, and that is why we have cracked down including through the 10pm curfew which sends a clear signal to hospitality venues that they have to abide by the regulations."

He told the Lords: "If a hospitality venue like a pub has good contact tracing when you arrive, socially-distanced seating, table service and booking then there is no reason why that should present a threat.

His statement comes after the Government effectively banned casual sex in areas under local lockdown.

People who are not in “established relationships” in parts of the North East, North West and Scotland are not allowed to meet in each other’s homes for sex, Matt Hancock said.

Pressed on how fledgling couples should define “established,” the Health Secretary said the public should “be careful”.

A YouGov poll published on Friday found that 84 per cent of respondents thought an established relationship included couples together for a year or more, versus 42 per cent of people who thought it included couples who had met each other’s parents.

Five per cent of respondents thought an established relationship constituted just one date.

Baroness Wheatcroft, an independent peer, called for greater clarity from the Government and claimed the public was confused about why they could meet people at pubs or restaurants but not at home in locked-down areas.

"For those who have been subjected to swathes of new regulations, it is the illogicality of the Government's messaging, its policies and policy changes which generates confusion,” she said.

"For instance, in areas where households are not allowed to mix, they're still able to go to the pub or the restaurant provided they leave by 10pm.

"I listened to the deputy chief medical officer Professor Van-Tam and he made it very clear that the hospitality industry did help fuel the spread of the disease."

Baroness Uddin warned restaurants faced a "massive hit" due to the 10pm curfew.

"The hospitality industry once again will take a massive hit just as many, including in the British curry industry, felt some hope of survival,” she said.

Earlier, former Labour cabinet minister Lord Blunkett said the "elephant in the room" was whether the Eat Out to Help Out scheme might have driven a spike in infections.

He added: "Infection rates during August rose and admissions to hospital by the end of August had started to rise.

"Has this any correlation with the Eat Out to Help Out, which economically was incredibly successful, but might actually have contributed to where we are today."