Nicola Sturgeon has announced the Scottish Government will introduce a series of new hospitality rule changes as Scotland continues to battle against the spread of the Omicron covid variant.
For three weeks from December 27, there will be a requirement for table service only in licensed premises.
Meanwhile, indoor hospitality and leisure venues will have to ensure a one metre distance between groups of people who are attending together.
Nicola Sturgeon also reiterated there should be no more than three households represented in any group in these hospitality settings.
During her speech in the Scottish Parliament this afternoon, in which the First Minister also announced the cancellation of Hogmanay events and a significant limit on fans at football matches, she said: "From 27 December, again for a three week period - we intend to introduce some further protections in hospitality settings and other indoor public places to reduce transmission risk in what are, through no fault of those who run such venues, higher risk environments.
"I can confirm that a requirement for table service only will be reintroduced for venues serving alcohol for consumption on the premises.
"And we will also ask indoor hospitality and leisure venues to ensure 1 metre distance, not within, but between groups of people who are attending together.
"We will continue to advise people that if they are attending indoor hospitality or leisure venues - and remember our core advice remains to minimise this - there should be no more than 3 households represented in any group.
"Presiding Officer, I know how unwelcome this will be for everyone - but we believe these precautionary steps will help us navigate a difficult period more safely. "
The First Minister also advised how she intends to compensate businesses affected, with reference to UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak's announcement of additional funding, which came shortly before Nicola Sturgeon appeared in parliament.
She continued: "I am also acutely aware that these decisions - and the advice we are giving the public - have significant financial implications for many businesses.
"Last week, I announced £100m of support from within our existing resources for affected sectors. I can also confirm eligibility and guidance for the hospitality sector will be published on the Scottish Government website today.
"Since then, the Treasury has given approval for money that would have come to us later to be allocated now.
"As I have said, we had already budgeted for most of that money and so we cannot allocate it now without causing significant shortfalls anywhere, including in the health budget. Money cannot be spent twice.
"However, we estimate that the Treasury announcements do give us additional spending power now of £175 million. I can confirm today that we will allocate all of this to business support.
"The Treasury has in the last hour or so just announced additional funding for business. Unfortunately, it would appear that this announcement generates no further funding for Scotland and that any consequentials are contained within previous announcements by the Treasury.
"I can, however, announce that the Scottish Government will allocate a further £100 million from elsewhere in our budget between now and the end of the financial year.
"This will involve difficult decisions but the impact of the current crisis on business is such that we consider it essential.
"Taken together, this adds up to a fund of £375 million that will help support business for the unavoidable impacts of our decisions over the next 3 weeks. This is significantly more - proportionately - than the Chancellor has announced for the UK as a a whole."
Nicola Sturgeon says she will continue to press the UK Government for further funding.
She added: "Presiding Officer, while this is significant funding, I understand that it will not fully compensate business.
"As I said last week, my view is that the scale and urgency of the Omicron challenge requires financial support for business on a scale similar to that at the start of the pandemic.
"However, current UK funding arrangements mean, firstly, that only the Treasury has the borrowing powers to provide support on such a scale.
"And second, that financial support at scale is triggered only when the UK government takes decisions for England.
"All of this means that our ability to act to protect public health - and to compensate individuals and businesses affected - is curtailed. This cannot be right in a public health emergency
"So while today's Treasury announcement may be a welcome acknowledgement of the crisis businesses face, it does not yet go far enough.
"We will therefore continue to press the UK government to take the threat of Omicron more seriously and to act accordingly."
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