Licenced cafes will now be able to remain open, provided they do not serve alcohol, after Nicola Sturgeon announced an exemption to the forthcoming restrictions on licensed premises.
The First Minister confirmed the news during FMQs in Parliament this afternoon, stating that regulations will be brought forward tomorrow to include the specific exemption.
Speaking in response to a question on the issue tabled by Labour MSP Jackie Baillie, Ms Sturgeon said: "Cafes will be able to open whether they are licensed or unlicensed, as long as they don't serve alcohol.
"The regulations that we will shortly bring forward to close certain premises will include a specific exemption for cafes."
The new exemption means that licensed or unlicensed cafes in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Ayrshire and Arran, Forth Valley, Lanarkshire and Lothian areas will be able to open daily between 6am and 6pm so long as they don't serve alcohol.
The new restrictions, which have been drawn up to stem the surge in coronavirus cases, come into force from 6pm tomorrow until 25 October, an apply to about 3.4 million people.
