First Minister bans Highland pubs and restaurants from serving alcohol indoors
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Pubs and restaurants across the Highlands will not be allowed to serve alcohol indoors as part of new measures announced by the First Minister today.
Nicola Sturgeon said the new restrictions would apply nationwide, with additional limits on licensed premises in the central belt.
Pubs, bars, licensed cafes and restaurants in the health board areas of Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Lothian, Ayrshire and Arran, Forth Valley and Lanarkshire have been told to close for more than two weeks from 6pm on Friday until Sunday, October 25.
In the Highlands, hospitality premises will be allowed to continue operating indoors between 6am and 6pm serving food and non-alcoholic drinks, as well as being able to serve outdoors until 10pm, including alcohol.
The rule covering the maximum number of six people from two households in indoor settings will still apply.
Ms Sturgeon said she was also offering a £40 million package of support to affected businesses.
People have also been advised not to travel to the worst affected health board areas unless for essential reasons.
The news comes as 1054 new cases were confirmed across Scotland – 13 per cent of people who were tested – with 19 new cases in the NHS Highland area.
Nationally, there has also been one further death reported in the last 24 hours.
