The Government has published a new list of rules for nightclubs which are effective immediately - and come with a massive fine if businesses are found to be in breach of them.
New rules were finally revealed on Thursday after being signed into law, a week after clubs reopened following a year and a half of complete closure.
There is huge anger in the industry over the handling of the reopening, with the Government being slammed for “confusion” and lack of consultation.
The new rules devised by Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, include the following:
Clubbers will require electronic tickets to get into all venues where there is dancing
They must be bought one hour in advance and you must give your name and number
The tickets are non-transferrable
There can be no congregating outside venues
You must queue one metre apart when getting a drink at the bar in the club or late bar
Masks must be worn if you’re not dancing, drinking or eating
Toilets will have a one way system in place
And crowd surfacing is specifically mentioned as being banned
The penalties for breaches of the new rules are stiff, with fines from €2,500 for a one-time offence, up to €5,000 for repeat offenders and the possibility of a venue being shut down if caught not enforcing the new rules after receiving fines and warnings.
The hospitality industry wanted a two weeks amnesty to give them time to get the necessary ticketing systems organised.
But this plea was rejected by the Government, with the new laws coming into effect on Friday.
A senior industry source told the Irish Mirror last night that the new rules were “rammed through, they didn’t listen to us at all.”
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