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The U.K. government and Department of Health are facing a legal challenge launched by the owner of four hospitality venues against the 10 p.m. curfew enforced on bars and restaurants.
Jeremy Joseph, owner of G-A-Y nightclub, has sought a judicial review to repeal the nightclub and pub curfew that has caused a lot of controversy with venue and bar owners, according to the Slough Observer.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the 10 p.m. nightclub and pub curfew on 24 September, just three months after bars and venues reopened after the lockdown restrictions were lifted. Many hospitality venue owners do not understand the nightclub curfew and do not believe it will keep the number of COVID-19 cases down, but instead, will hurt businesses’ revenue.
“The 10 p.m. curfew, which has now been in place for the last two weeks and has been detrimental to the hospitality sector, including G-A-Y, makes absolutely no sense,” Joseph told the Manchester Evening News. “It does the opposite of protecting people by pushing them onto the street at the same time.”
He continued: “They are going from being safe inside venues with staggered closing times to unsafe on overcrowded streets and overloaded public transport. This government has failed to show why the 10 p.m. curfew was put in place and has published no scientific evidence to substantiate its implementation.
“It seems to direct the blame for this action on the sector, consistently treating the night-time economy as a scapegoat when, in fact, we have years of operational experience of keeping customers safe, and have spent substantial time and effort making sure our venues are COVID secure,” Joseph said.
Joseph wrote to Health Secretary Matt Hancock, notifying him about the legal actions being launched against the nightclub and pub curfew, The Guardian reported.
Lawyers at Simpson Millar on behalf of G-A-Y nightclub are questioning how the decision to enforce a 10 p.m. nightclub curfew is going to reduce COVID-19 cases.
They say the 10 p.m. pub curfew is just hurting bars and restaurants, many of which may have to shut their doors this winter.
The law firm also alleges that the government has not shown any evidence that backs the 10 p.m. nightclub curfew, which “seems to lack any obvious rational or scientific basis,” The Guardian reported.
Those who oppose the pub curfew say the restrictions are not only ruining hospitality businesses, but the measures may also be useless, as crowds are gathering on the streets or flocking to public transport after venues close at 10 p.m.
Venues in the United States have also begun bringing lawsuits to fight curfews in cities such as Indianapolis and New York City.
G-A-Y nightclub had asked for evidence of the nightclub curfew’s efficiency from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) by 6 October, according to the Slough Observer.
While venue and hospitality owners fear that the 10 p.m. pub curfew is going to cause staff redundancies and business closures, the DHSC is standing by the curfew restrictions, at least for now.
“The latest data suggests a considerable rise in the infection rate following people socialising in hospitality venues serving alcohol in recent weeks, so we have taken immediate action to cut the transmission rate and save lives and will keep all measures under constant review,” a DHSC spokesperson said, according to The Guardian. “The 10 p.m. closure allows people to continue to socialise while reducing the risk of failing to socially distance.”
Joseph says he has had enough and that Hancock and Johnson are culpable for struggling businesses and possible future closures as the hospitality industry continues to face challenges.
Do you think the pub and nightclub curfews should be done away with, or do you think they are helping stop the spread of COVID-19? Share your opinion in the comments.
Check back daily for the most recent U.K. class action lawsuit and consumer protection news.
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