5 F&B outlets ordered to close for breaching safe management measures, including one that served alcohol in green tea bottles after 10.30pm
16 other F&B outlets and 36 individuals were also fined for flouting safe management measures by the authorities.
Five F&B outlets were ordered to close temporarily for breaching safe management measures, the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE) said in a statement on Tuesday (Dec 22).
One of the outlets, Tangmen at Orchard Plaza was found to have served alcohol in green tea bottles after 10.30pm. Patrons were seen by enforcement officers to be consuming the drinks at 3.40am on Dec 19 at the outlet.
The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) later issued an order requiring the operator to close its premises for 10 days until Dec 28.
Cheers Up in Havelock Road, One Min Club at Concorde Hotel, Chong Qing Steamboat in Beach Road and QQ in South Bridge Road were the other outlets ordered to close.
The breaches were uncovered during stepped-up enforcement checks over the last weekend, MSE said.
On Dec 18, the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) issued an order requiring Cheers Up to close for 10 days from Dec 19 to 28 for allowing patrons to consume alcoholic beverages past 10.30pm on Dec 11.
When officers did a follow-up check on Dec 18, they found Cheers Up still allowing patrons to consume alcoholic beverages at 11.15pm. Another closure order was issued by URA, this time for 20 days from 29 December 2020 to 17 January 2021.
Another four offences were also committed on Saturday (Dec 19).
One Min Club committed multiple breaches of safe management measures. They include allowing a group of seven people to be seated together at a table, a group of 11 people to be seated at another table and providing drinking games to patrons.
F&B establishments are not permitted to provide games if they are not an amusement centre. The STB has issued an order requiring the operator to close the premises for a period of 10 days from 20 to 29 Dec.
Meanwhile, a group of eight patrons were found intermingling at Chong Qing Steamboat at 10pm on the same day. URA issued an order requiring the operator to close the premises for a period of 10 days until Jan 1.
Officers observed patrons at QQ consuming alcoholic beverages at 10.40pm, past the 10.30pm cut-off time for alcohol consumption. URA similarly issued an order requiring the operator to close the premises for a period of 10 days until Jan 1.
A total of 16 other F&B outlets and 36 individuals were also fined for flouting SMMs. They include admitting and seating groups of more than five together, allowing groups to intermingle, and seating groups of patrons less than one metre apart.
MSE said in its statement: “Agencies are reviewing the breaches and the appropriate enforcement actions to be taken, including temporary closure of the outlets and the issuance of fines. F&B outlets with repeated offences will face harsher penalties.”
Ahead of the festive season, MSE also warned that COVID-19 remains a “grave threat” and urged Singaporeans to be socially responsible by observing SMMs and wearing a mask unless eating or drinking.
“This will help to safeguard public health, while allowing businesses to remain open. The Government will not hesitate to take strong enforcement action against operators and individuals who treat SMMs with flagrant disregard,” MSE said.
