3 more food and beverage premises ordered to close and 4 outlets fined for breaching safe management measures

Published on Authored by C to I News Desk
15 individuals found inside the restaurant at 39 Hong Kong Street seated across four tables and intermingling on 12 September 2020. Photo courtesy: Urban Redevelopment Authority
15 individuals found inside the restaurant at 39 Hong Kong Street seated across four tables and intermingling on 12 September 2020. Photo courtesy: Urban Redevelopment Authority

Three more food and beverage (F&B) outlets have been ordered to close, while four other outlets have been issued fines, for breaching Safe Management Measures (SMMs), said a news release from the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment. 

This is in addition to the enforcement actions taken against 18 F&B outlets as had been announced on September 17. 

Among the offenders is a restaurant at 39 Hong Kong Street which had a group of 15 individuals inside at 9.10pm on September 12. As per the news release, the group had organised a private dinner event and was split across four tables, with intermingling observed by officers. 

Also on September 12, the Beer Factory, located at 25 Church Street, was observed to have admitted three groups of patrons that each comprised more than five persons at 9.50pm. 

The Beer Factory admitted three groups of patrons, each comprising more than five persons, with one group comprising eight people on 12 September. Photo courtesy: Urban Redevelopment Authority
The Beer Factory admitted three groups of patrons, each comprising more than five persons, with one group comprising eight people on 12 September. Photo courtesy: Urban Redevelopment Authority

The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) has issued orders requiring the operators of both establishments to close the premises from September 18-27. 

On September 19, officers observed patrons consuming alcohol at 10.55pm at two tables in the outdoor refreshment area at Blk 261, Serangoon Central Drive. The alcoholic beverages were sold and served from a drinks outlet at Blk 261, Serangoon Central Drive, #01-27 as per the news release.  Under the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Act 2020, the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited after 10.30pm. The Singapore Food Agency issued an order requiring the operator of the drinks outlet at #01-27 to close the premises from September 22 till October 1. 

On 19 September 2020, officers observed patrons consuming alcohol at 10.55pm at two tables in the outdoor refreshment area at Blk 261, Serangoon Central Drive. Photo courtesy: Singapore Food Agency
On 19 September 2020, officers observed patrons consuming alcohol at 10.55pm at two tables in the outdoor refreshment area at Blk 261, Serangoon Central Drive. Photo courtesy: Singapore Food Agency

Four other Food and Beverage outlets in Singapore have been fined SGD 1,000 for breaching SMMs such as allowing groups of more than five to be seated together, to intermingle between tables, and seating groups of customers less than 1 metre apart. These outlets are among the seven found to have breached SMMs as part of stepped-up checks at F&B hotspots by government agencies on September 16.

Patrons at two different tables in an F&B outlet in Chinatown were seated less than 1 metre apart. Photo courtesy: Singapore Food Agency
Patrons at two different tables in an F&B outlet in Chinatown were seated less than 1 metre apart. Photo courtesy: Singapore Food Agency

Additionally, from September 18-20, government agencies conducted additional inspections on 323 F&B outlets in known hotspots, out of which 18 were found to have breached SMMs. 

“Agencies are reviewing these breaches and the appropriate enforcement actions to be taken, including temporary closure of the outlets and the issuance of fines,” stated the news release.