SNP Covid easing plans a ‘shambles’ over claims people cannot drink in pubs while standing up

Nicola Sturgeon’s easing of Covid restrictions has been described as a “shambles” after her government flip-flopped over whether drinking in pubs while standing up would be permitted.

John Swinney, the Deputy First Minister, said so-called “vertical drinking” in licensed premises would not be allowed from Monday, with customers continuing to be forced to wear a face covering while standing up.

He said drinking while standing was “not a good idea in the context of Covid being part of our lives” and argued it was not “contradictory” to ban this while allowing hundreds of revellers to dance in nightclubs without masks.

His intervention shocked the licensed trade sector amid warnings that many traditional pubs would be unable to trade if they continued to only serve customers who were seated.

Industry leaders then held “heated” discussions with Scottish government officials, who promptly performed an about-turn and insisted that Mr Swinney had “misspoken”.

However, it remained unclear whether those standing with their drinks would be permitted to consume their entire beverage without wearing a mask, or whether they would have to pull it back over their face between sips.

Confusion also remained over the rules for wearing face masks in nightclubs, which will reopen on Monday, with both Ms Sturgeon and Mr Swinney suggesting they would not be required while dancing. They provided no other details.

The Scottish Licensed Trade Association said officials were still drawing up the guidance and expressed hope it would be issued by Friday, giving licensed premises the weekend to prepare before the changes come into effect.

The Scottish Tories said the SNP’s communication of the new rules was a “shambles” and ministers appeared to be “making up muddled Covid guidance as they go along”.

Confusion over the new rules intensified the day after Ms Sturgeon announced that most of the remaining legally imposed restrictions will be lifted on Monday as Scotland moves “beyond” the lowest Level 0 restrictions in her five-tier system.

She was accused of creating a “halfway house” to freedom by abolishing social distancing laws, but advising people to stay apart and warning they must wear face masks indefinitely in all the settings currently required.

Ms Sturgeon’s decision to retain laws requiring masks was particularly controversial as cases have continued to drop in England after they were removed in pubs and clubs on July 19.

Annie Wells, the Scottish Tories’ shadow health secretary, said: “Within just a few hours, the SNP government have u-turned on what John Swinney emphatically told everyone earlier.

“He had to apologise for promoting fake news a few weeks ago and now his officials have been forced to slap down his latest gaffe in humiliating fashion.

“Mixed messaging like this is unacceptable. It makes life even harder for businesses who already have to adapt to new rules. John Swinney doesn’t need a vertical drink, he needs a good long horizontal lie-down.”

Wearing masks in nightclubs ‘a bit tricky’

Mr Swinney had earlier acknowledged that making revellers in nightclubs wear masks on dance floors would be a “bit tricky” and “quite a challenge” as he indicated some form of exemption would be agreed in talks with the night-time sector.

Asked if people could drink at the bar in pubs, he told BBC Radio Scotland’s Good Morning Scotland programme: “No, you can’t... Let’s take all reasonable steps we possibly can to stop the circulation of the virus without impinging on our ability to socialise with those who are our friends and loved ones.”

Pressed on why the First Minister was not trusting the public to exercise their own judgment, he said: “If you’re going to a nightclub to have a dance, I accept that you have to stand up and you have to have that dance and move about.

“I don’t think it’s absolutely necessary for people to crowd around a bar to do vertical drinking. That’s not necessary for that purpose.”

The Scottish Hospitality Group of licensed premises warned that forcing people to be seated before they can have a drink restricted bars to approximately 40 per cent trading “and many have not opened because of the need for bar area drinking”.

The SLTA and Scottish Beer and Pub Association said Mr Swinney’s surprise announcement had caused stress.

Paul Togneri, policy manager at the SBPA, said: “The confusion earlier this morning caused unnecessary alarm for the many businesses who believed they may be forced to stay closed as a result.

“We’re glad that it’s now been clarified but we await the formal guidance, which we hope is published as soon as possible to give operators a chance to get ready for Monday.”

Colin Wilkinson, the trade body’s managing director, said allowing vertical drinking was a “huge bonus to the industry” and particularly traditional bars where many customers prefer to stand.

The Scottish Government was approached for comment.