3 F&B outlets ordered to close, 4 others fined $1k for flouting safe management measures

45 eateries in all have been taken to task for flouting rules since the start of phase two

The three F&B outlets ordered to close for 10 days are (from top) a coffee shop drinks outlet at Block 261 Serangoon Central Drive, where patrons were seen drinking alcohol after 10.30pm; Beer Factory at 25 Church Street, where three groups of more t
The three F&B outlets ordered to close for 10 days are (above) a coffee shop drinks outlet at Block 261 Serangoon Central Drive, where patrons were seen drinking alcohol after 10.30pm; Beer Factory at 25 Church Street, where three groups of more than five customers each were seen; and a restaurant at 39 Hong Kong Street, where officers saw a group of 15 mingling across four tables. PHOTO: MINISTRY OF SUSTAINABILITY AND THE ENVIRONMENT
The three F&B outlets ordered to close for 10 days are (from top) a coffee shop drinks outlet at Block 261 Serangoon Central Drive, where patrons were seen drinking alcohol after 10.30pm; Beer Factory at 25 Church Street, where three groups of more t
The three F&B outlets ordered to close for 10 days are a coffee shop drinks outlet at Block 261 Serangoon Central Drive, where patrons were seen drinking alcohol after 10.30pm; (above) Beer Factory at 25 Church Street, where three groups of more than five customers each were seen; and a restaurant at 39 Hong Kong Street, where officers saw a group of 15 mingling across four tables. PHOTO: MINISTRY OF SUSTAINABILITY AND THE ENVIRONMENT
The three F&B outlets ordered to close for 10 days are (from top) a coffee shop drinks outlet at Block 261 Serangoon Central Drive, where patrons were seen drinking alcohol after 10.30pm; Beer Factory at 25 Church Street, where three groups of more t
The three F&B outlets ordered to close for 10 days are a coffee shop drinks outlet at Block 261 Serangoon Central Drive, where patrons were seen drinking alcohol after 10.30pm; Beer Factory at 25 Church Street, where three groups of more than five customers each were seen; and (above) a restaurant at 39 Hong Kong Street, where officers saw a group of 15 mingling across four tables. PHOTO: MINISTRY OF SUSTAINABILITY AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Three food and beverage outlets - including one in a coffee shop - have been ordered to close for 10 days, while four others have been fined $1,000 each for flouting safe management measures, said the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE) yesterday.

This follows enforcement action taken against 18 other F&B outlets, with three ordered to close and 15 fined, as announced last Thursday.

Since the start of phase two, 45 F&B outlets have been taken to task for breaches. Of these, 26 were ordered to close and 19 were fined.

In its statement, MSE reiterated that gatherings of groups of more than five people are not allowed, even if split across multiple tables. F&B operators are not permitted to accept such reservations, it said.

"Exceptions can only be made if all members of the group are from the same household. In such cases, the group will need to be seated at multiple tables, with no more than five persons per table, with at least 1m spacing between the tables.

"Establishments can request to verify diners' claims that they are from the same household, and can reject entry of diners at their discretion," it added.

In a Facebook post yesterday, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu said the authorities will continue to step up enforcement against violations of safe management measures.

"As Singapore works towards reopening our economy, we must do so in a responsible and safe manner. This is to guard against a resurgence in community cases, and potential devastating consequences," she wrote. "More people are dining out, especially on weekends, which is understandable. But it is critical for all of us to adhere to safe management measures."

One of those ordered to shut is a drinks outlet in a coffee shop at Block 261 Serangoon Central Drive. Officers arrived there at 10.55pm on Saturday and saw customers consuming alcohol at two tables.

Under the Covid-19 (Temporary Measures) Act 2020, selling and consuming alcoholic beverages after 10.30pm is prohibited. On Monday, the Singapore Food Agency ordered the outlet to close starting yesterday until Oct 1 - a period of 10 days.

Beer Factory at 25 Church Street was ordered to shut its doors by the Urban Redevelopment Authority last Thursday. It will stay closed for 10 days until Sunday. On Sept 12, three groups of more than five customers each were observed at the outlet at 9.50pm.

A restaurant at 39 Hong Kong Street was also told to close after officers saw a group of 15 diners mingling across four tables at a private dinner event on Sept 12. It will stay closed for 10 days until Sunday.

Four other outlets were fined $1,000 for breaches such as allowing groups of more than five to be seated together or to intermingle between tables, and seating groups of customers less than 1m apart.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on September 23, 2020, with the headline 3 F&B outlets ordered to close, 4 others fined $1k for flouting safe management measures. Subscribe