Q1:    How is a premises determined to be one that is exclusively or mainly used for the sale or supply of liquors?

Any premises that is exclusively or mainly used for the sale or supply of liquors for consumption in that premises (bar, pub etc.) must be closed. Enforcement officers will, based on all relevant factors, determine whether or not the premises fall within the premises required to be closed under the directions.  The proportion of liquor sale business to the overall business is one of the factors that they could make reference to.

Q2.     Are Chinese restaurants and Western restaurants covered in the latest directions?

If a Chinese restaurant or Western restaurant holding a liquor licence mainly supplies meals and the liquors supplied are only ancillary to the meals, it is not affected by the latest directions. 

For Chinese restaurants or Western restaurants with a bar table, the bar table area is to be closed. 

Q3:     Is on-site consumption of liquors bought from convenience stores not allowed?

For convenience stores, the main business is not exclusively or mainly selling or supplying liquors.  Customers usually leave the stores after purchase of goods rather than having on-site consumption.  Depending on individual circumstances, operators may not be held liable for breaching the latest directions if their customers are found consuming their liquors on-site.  However, customers should take their own health as well as public health into consideration.  Also worthy to note is that gathering of more than 4 persons drinking alcohol and chatting could possibly be in breach of the regulation that prohibits group gathering in public places during specified period.

Q4:     Are bars not required to be closed if they shift to sell non-alcoholic drinks or food tomorrow?

 To determine whether or not the premises fall within the premises required to be closed under the directions, the proportion of liquor sale business to the overall business is one of the factors that they could make reference to.

If the main business of the premises has been changed to supplying meals or non-alcoholic drinks, it may not be required to be closed. In addition, the premises should comply with the directions on premises of catering business made by the SFH.  The directions include the number of customers must not exceed 50% of the normal seating capacity of the premises; no more than 4 persons may be seated together at one table; and tables must be arranged in a way to ensure there is a distance of at least 1.5 metres or some form of partition which could serve as effective buffer between one table and another table at the premises. 

Q5:     If the bar table area in a restaurant is not open but the patrons at the dining table areas order liquors for consumption, can the waiter/waitress enter the bar table area to get the liquor for the patrons at the dining tables?  As all liquors are stored in the refrigerator within the bar table area and the draught beers must be obtained from the bar table, what should the restaurant do?

Depending on individual circumstances, if the operator does not open the bar table area for their patrons’ consumption of liquors therein and the restaurant staff merely get the liquors from the storage facility within the bar table area, it does not seem that such a case constitutes a breach of the latest directions.