With the imminent end of the state of emergency, Tokyo and 18 prefectures covered by the declaration have released details about easing coronavirus mitigation measures for bars and restaurants.
Prefectural governors will be individually able to issue restrictions -- such as limits on business hours and serving alcohol -- for bars and restaurants tailored to the local coronavirus infection situation.
However, the prefectures are unable to order establishments to adhere to the restrictions and impose penalties on violators, steps they can take while the state of emergency and priority measures are in place.
Taking each governor's decision into account, most local governments will allow establishments they have certified as taking sufficient infection mitigation measures to serve alcohol until 8 p.m. or 8:30 p.m.
Some prefectures do not restrict the hours alcohol can be served.
In Tokyo, certified establishments will be requested to stop serving alcohol after 8 p.m. and close by 9 p.m., whereas uncertified ones will be asked to continue closing by 8 p.m. and not serve alcohol. In addition, only up to four customers can be seated at one table.
Relief payments made to bars and restaurants that follow the requests will range from 600,000 yen to 4.8 million yen for small or midsize establishments and up to 4.8 million yen for large establishments. The requests are based on the special measures law on new strains of influenza. No fines will be levied on establishments that violate the law.
Saitama, Kanagawa, Aichi and Hiroshima prefectures and Hokkaido are among the prefectures that will allow authorized bars and restaurants to serve alcohol until 8 p.m.
Osaka, Kyoto, Hyogo and Fukuoka prefectures will allow establishments to serve alcohol until 8:30 p.m.
Ibaraki, Shizuoka and Shiga prefectures will not impose restrictions on business hours and alcohol serving times.
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