On Wednesday 7^th Oct 2020 the Scottish First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, announced strict new measures in Scotland to try to stop the increase in Coronavirus cases.

Indoor hospitality now has a 6pm curfew and a strict alcohol-free only policy on beverages. If licensed premises wish to serve alcohol this has to be on an external basis only. Outdoor hospitality is subject to a 10pm curfew. These restrictions are in place for two weeks from the 9^th of October.

Hotels are an exception to the rules on indoor hospitality, they can have their dining areas open beyond 6pm to residents only and on a non-alcoholic basis only. Funerals and celebrations associated with specific life events such as weddings are also an exception to these new regulations. All current regulations regarding the limits on number of people meeting, six people from two households, remain in place.

Five Scottish health board areas have been highlighted as having high enough infection rates that all pubs and licensed cafes have been ordered to close to all but takeaway customers for more than two weeks. Cafes that don’t have an alcohol licence will be able to stay open until 6pm. Snooker and pool halls, indoor bowling alleys, casinos and bingo halls are also to close from Saturday the 10^th of October. The areas affected by stricter regulations are – Greater Glasgow & Clyde, Lanarkshire, Ayrshire & Arran, Lothian and Forth Valley.

Sturgeon has stated that an additional £40m in funding will be made available to businesses impacted by new restrictions.