Scotland's hospitality minister has said there is “no guarantee” that pubs and restaurants across the central belt will reopen in two weeks time.
Fergus Ewing said he was “acutely aware” that the hospitality sector would experience “very serious, adverse impacts” as a result of new coronavirus restrictions.
The Scottish Government ordered the closure of venues on Friday evening as part of a 16-day “circuit breaker” to stop the spread of the virus.
Licensed premises in Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Lothian, Lanarkshire, Forth Valley and Ayrshire and Arran are now closed until 25 October - although they can still serve takeaways.
Speaking on BBC Scotland’s Sunday Politics programme, Ewing said the restrictions were “absolutely necessary" and admitted they could continue until past the current earmarked end date of October 25.
He added: "Were they not in place, the worry is that we may have had to go to something even more stringent.
"The first minister had made it clear that she really wishes to avoid a further lockdown - as does, I believe, the leadership in the other parts of the United Kingdom.
"That is absolutely the case. But there can be no guarantees."
Hospitality venues in other parts of Scotland are allowed to open, but are only permitted to serve non-alcoholic drinks and food indoors between 6am to 6pm.
These venues are still able to serve alcohol in outdoor areas, such as beer gardens, up to the 10pm curfew introduced in September.
Ewing said the Scottish government was following the best scientific advice.
He said there were "no absolute certainties" when it comes to establishing how a person caught coronavirus.
He said areas that appear to be the greatest risk are illegal house parties or hospitality settings "where alcohol is imbibed and inhibitions lax".
