On Friday pubs and restaurants were closed down across the central belt for 16 days by the First Minister over concerns of rising COVID cases across Scotland.
The decision was met with controversy from pub owners and hospitality staff who called the decision " utterly devastating" with many workers dumping ice outside Holyrood on Friday night to protest.
But in an interview with BBC Scotland's Politics Scotland Fergus Ewing, the Scottish Government's Cabinet Secretary for Tourism said that he "can't guarantee' the hospitality sector will be re-opened back up in two weeks time.
Fergus Ewing, the Scottish Government's Cabinet Secretary for Tourism was asked by the programme if he could guarantee that the sector would reopen in a fortnight to which he replied he was "wary about guaranteeing things in politics."
He added:" "I certainly can't guarantee that in this case.
"I'm acutely aware of the impact on business.
"That's why we have brought forward the package of (support) measures."
Fergus Ewing called the restrictions "necessary" and said the Scottish Government are looking at 'evidence' to suggest that hospitality poses less of a risk than "drunken house parties"
The Scottish Government's Cabinet Secretary for Tourism said: "From my experience the vast majority of hospitality premises have been well-managed and have spent a lot of money and time and effort and have scrupulously observed the COVID protocols and guidance to protect their staff and clientele.
"Therefore if it is the case that further evidence and analysis shows that that well managed hospitality setting for people getting together is conducive of less risk than for example, chaotic, unmanaged, late night drunken house parties, then I think that dialogue is something that the Scottish Government wants to pursue."
