Scots pubs failing to collect customer details now ‘breaking the law’

Pubs and restaurants in Scotland have been warned they will now be breaking the law if they don’t collect customer contact details.

Nicola Sturgeon said music will be banned inn pubs

It comes amid growing concerns of rising cases of the Coronavirus in Scotland linked to the hospitality sector which returned just over a month ago.

Nicola Sturgeon warned today that customers must be turned away as if they fail to provide their name and phone number. She also announced a ban on background music in bars to prevent customers shouting to be heard which is believed the spread the virus.

Ms Sturgeon said as Scotland recorded 65 new coronavirus cases in a day.Providing contact details in hospitality venues to allow contact tracing in the event of a positive case became law on Friday, having previously been advised.

Speaking at the Scottish Government's coronavirus briefing, the First Minister said: "It is now mandatory for hospitality businesses - including cafes, restaurants, pubs and bars - to collect customer and visitor contact details."That requirement already exists in guidance and I know many businesses are already doing this, but it is now the law."It's an essential step to ensure that our test and protect system can function as effectively as possible."So from now on, all hospitality businesses must collect contact details for all visitors to the premises. That includes customers and staff, but also people such as cleaners and delivery drivers."Let me make this point clear as well, particularly to members of the public: if customers refuse to provide these details, they should not be served in the place that they're trying to be served."The First Minister also expressed concern about "venues where crowding has become an issue, due to poor compliance with physical distancing or premises exceeding their safety capacity".She highlighted new Government guidance for hospitality venues and said physical distancing of at least one metre must apply, unless customers are from the same household.Ms Sturgeon stressed "nobody's social life should feel exactly as it was before", as she issued guidance urging people to avoid visiting numerous hospitality venues in quick succession.She said: "The more settings you go to, the more likely you might be to get Covid-19, and the more likely you might be to spread it."Visiting lots of pubs in a single day or evening massively increases the workload of test and protect, so please think about that - it makes a really big difference if you stay in one pub."The First Minister said 28 of the new cases are in the Grampian health board area, nine are in Greater Glasgow and Clyde, 12 are in Lanarkshire and two in Orkney.Since July 26, 198 cases are believed to be associated with the "large and complex outbreak" linked to Aberdeen pubs, which led to a local lockdown.A total of 1,032 contacts have been traced, and the First Minister warned new cases and contacts are expected in the coming days.However, she added the Scottish Government is "hopeful that this is an outbreak that will be brought firmly under control".A total of 19,238 people have tested positive for coronavirus in Scotland and of these people no new deaths were reported in the past 24 hours, meaning this toll remains at 2,491.There are 253 people in hospital with confirmed or suspected Covid-19, a decrease of five in 24 hours.Of these patients, three were in intensive care, no change from Thursday.

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