7 more F&B outlets fined for flouting safe distancing rules; 2 in Clarke Quay to suspend operations

• All seven offenders were fined S$1,000 each, said the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA)
• 17 people will be fined for breaching the five-person rule at various other F&B outlets, URA said
• It will step up enforcement checks, "no excuse (for businesses and individuals) to continue flouting the rules” 

SINGAPORE — The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) said on Wednesday (Sept 9) it has taken action against seven errant food-and-beverage (F&B) outlets for breaking Covid-19 safety rules.

Among the seven outlets that were fined, two — the Le Noir and Coyote Ugly restaurants in Clarke Quay — were ordered to stop dine-in activities from Sept 10 to 19.

URA said in a press release that its officers had discovered safe distancing breaches at seven F&B outlets at Boat Quay, Clarke Quay, China Square and Tanjong Pagar from Sept 4 to 6.

These include “knowingly” accepting reservations for more than five persons and allowing the intermingling of groups of people across tables.

The authority also noted that the outlets had failed to observe the minimum 1m safe distance between groups and had allowed groups of more than five persons together.

Government agencies had issued a joint advisory in July that stated that gatherings of groups of more than five people are not allowed at F&B outlets — even if seated separately.

Exceptions can be made if all members of the group are from the same household and they must be seated at different tables with no more than five persons a table and with at least 1m spacing between the tables. 

URA said that for the latest cases, all seven offenders were fined S$1,000 each. It did not name all seven outlets aside from the two that were ordered to stop dine-in activities on top of their fines.

Besides these, 17 people will be fined for breaching the five-person rule at various other F&B outlets, “with more under investigation”, URA said.

The authority said that the rules on safe distancing have been clearly communicated to F&B businesses and individuals alike and there should be “no excuse to continue flouting the rules”.

It stressed again that operators are not allowed to accept groups of more than five persons, even when customers are split into different tables or in private dining rooms.

Customers gathering in groups of more than five at dining places should also note that they have committed an offence.

“Agencies will step up enforcement checks and take appropriate action against businesses and individuals who breach the safe management measures. This includes prosecution in court for egregious offenders,” URA said.

From Wednesday onwards, the various authorities will no longer issue warnings to F&B establishments that violate any safe management regulations. Instead, enforcement action will be taken against them, even for first-time offenders.

This is to tackle those who persistently break the rules and depending on the severity of the offence, these enforcement actions will include fines or the closure of the premises.

Mr Lawrence Wong, the co-chair of the governmental task force handling the Covid-19 pandemic, said during a news conference: “I think enough time has transpired for the entire F&B industry, as well as for diners, to understand what the rules are and to comply with them.”