Level 3 Pubs in Scotland Can Open in Revised Tiered Framework

A member of staff closes a door of The Beehive pub in the Grassmarket following last orders at 6pm, in Edinburgh, Scotland, on Oct. 9, 2020. Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

Pubs in Scotland’s Level 3 areas will be allowed to open, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon told Parliament on Tuesday.

She summarised in Parliament her proposed five-tiered Strategic Framework of CCP virus lockdowns, which was first announced on Friday, and changes made after consultation, before the debate and vote on the framework.

The framework was passed unanimously in Parliament alone with two amendments, one from the Liberal Democrat party, the other from the Scottish Green party, which said, “the ultimate goal must be elimination of COVID-19.”

Two amendments from the Scottish Conservative and Unionist party and the Scottish Labour party were rejected by Parliament.

The Five Levels

The new five-tiered framework will come into effect on Monday.

The three middle levels of intervention largely resemble the three-tiered system in England, with one more level added to either side.

Nicola Sturgeon, MSP First Minister attends a COVID-19 Statement on Scotland's new five level CCP virus alert system at the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood, in Edinburgh, Scotland, on Oct. 27, 2020. Fraser Bremner/Pool/Getty Images

Sturgeon detailed what the new rules mean for the hospitality sector.

Hospitality businesses in Level 0 areas, where eight people from three households will be allowed to meet indoor, can “operate almost normally subject to rules on physical distancing, limits or numbers, and other mitigations such as table service only,” she said.

Areas at Level 1 will see a 10:30 p.m. curfew for these businesses. And six people from two households can meet indoors.

Level 2 restrictions are largely the same as those currently in place outside of the central belt of Scotland, except for an extended outdoor opening time until 10:30 p.m.

Currently, in these areas, food can be served indoors until 6 p.m., and outdoors until 10 p.m. Alcohol is allowed only outside until 10 p.m.

Level 3 restrictions are similar to those currently in place across the central belt.

Currently, in these areas, only cafes can open until 6 p.m. to sell food and non-alcoholic drinks.

Under the new system, pubs, and restaurants will also be allowed to open, but the serving of alcohol will still be banned.

All hospitality businesses and other non-essential businesses in Level 4 areas will be closed.

Kieth McKenzie wears a shielding face mask as he works in the pub The Grill on Union Street, in Aberdeen, Scotland, on Aug. 5, 2020. Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

Indoor gatherings of different households are banned for Level 2 upward, but six people from two households can still meet outdoors.

Besides the hospitality sectors Sturgeon said without specifying the details, that changes had been made in relation to “childcare, shared parenting, and child contact centres, outdoor retail, bingo, and numbers are allowed at weddings at level four.”

Initial Levels

Sturgeon said she will confirm on Thursday the initial levels into which each local authority will be placed, and it will be reviewed weekly.

A post code checker will be launched so people can find out at any time what restrictions apply to their area.

Although final decisions were yet to be made, Sturgeon outlined roughly what levels places can expect to be in.

With some exceptions, “the central belt areas currently under the toughest restrictions are likely to be in Level 3 initially, and most of the rest of the country is likely to start in Level 2,” she said.

The highlands, Orkney, Shetland, the Western Isles, and Morey may be put into Level 1; Dundee city may have to go into Level 3, and North and South Lanarkshire may be the first to move into Level 4.

Sturgeon said the ministers intended to accept the public health advice that for any area moving to level one this week, “the current prohibition on meeting anyone from other households in our own homes should remain in place for a period as an extra precaution.”