Venues that fail to check if their customers have a valid vaccination pass or negative lateral flow test could now be ordered to close.
And they could also be fined thousands of pounds - starting from £1,000 for their first offence upwards of £10,000.
It comes in light of rapidly spreading cases of the Omicron variant, prompting the Prime Minister to implement Plan B measures across the country.
READ MORE: Long queues outside city centre vaccination centre as people 'turned away'
This means that all nightlife venues will need to ask for evidence of an NHS covid pass from later this week.
MPs will tomorrow vote on the requirement for the passes, which would come into effect from Wednesday if given the green light.
It was also announced today, December 13, that the booster jab could soon become mandatory for access to these venues going forward.
Councils could intervene and close crowded businesses, including nightclubs and theatres, that are not complying with the new laws.
And people who fake Covid passes could be hit with a £10,000 fine under laws published on Monday, December 13.
Businesses that fail to comply with the rules or show they are carrying out suitable checks on customers attending events will also face consequences.
The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Entry to Venues and Events) (England) Regulations 2021 make it an offence to make, adapt, supply or offer to supply “false evidence of Covid status to another person” which is known to be “false or misleading” as of 6am on Wednesday.
Venues which do not comply with rules on carrying out checks or ignore improvement or closure notices issued by councils could be fined £1,000 in the first instance, reduced to £500 if paid within 14 days.
This increases £2,000 and £4,000 for second and third offences and jumping to £10,000 for fourth or any subsequent offences thereafter.
A 24-page document setting out the regulations, which expire on January 26, said they impose “obligations on those responsible for organising certain events, or managing certain venues to take reasonable measures to ensure that they do not admit any person to such events, or venues unless the person concerned has been fully vaccinated or has tested negative for coronavirus within the last 48 hours, is participating (or has participated) in a clinical trial of a coronavirus vaccine or, for clinical reasons, should not be vaccinated with a coronavirus vaccine.”
Businesses must also keep records on the checks they have carried out for at least three months after events, under a section of the law lasting until April 26.
The rules apply to nightclubs, dance halls, discos, some live music venues, theatres, concert halls or other public buildings, exhibition and conference centres and sports stadiums, and others which are open between 1am and 5am, have a dancefloor, play music for dancing, and serve alcohol in the early hours of the morning.
The document adds: “A person who only leaves their seat during an event to use toilet facilities, to obtain food or drink or to leave the event, is not to be treated as moving around for part of the event.”
Customers must present a NHS Covid pass or an approved equivalent certificate to show they have been vaccinated, or show a “valid notification” of a negative test result taken within 48 hours prior to the event unless they are exempt.
Venues are “required to check every person admitted to the event or venue” unless they get approval from councils in advance to carry out spot checks instead if clearing everyone for entry would not be possible, would lead to crowds gathering and present a safety risk or a “potential threat for terrorist action”.
The rules give councils powers to issue improvement or closure notices if officers have concerns about venues adhering to the rules and think action needs to be taken to minimise the risk of exposure to coronavirus.
Others who are exempt include venue employees, anyone attending for “official duties” or organised sports or fitness activities, children under 18, and emergency services.
Exceptions to the rules include weddings, funerals, memorials and other “significant life events” like celebrating someone’s birth, “coming of age” or ceremonies to mark religious membership, as are events taking place in private houses, pubs, cafes, restaurants, bars and social or members’ clubs unless the event is ticketed and there is a charge for entry.
Amendments to separate Covid laws, published at the same time, confirm the Government’s decision to scrap self-isolation for those who have come into contact with a suspected Omicron Case take effect from 6am on Tuesday.
