Aberdeenshire Council officers are in touch with the licensed trade about the changes announced by the First Minister yesterday.

Effectively the sale of alcohol will be only permitted outdoors as further restrictions are being imposed on hospitality businesses from 18:00 hours on Friday 9 October until Sunday 25 October.

Here is a brief overview:

• All hospitality premises (pubs, bars, cafes, restaurants, members clubs) can operate indoors from 06:00 until 18:00 for food and non-alcoholic drinks.
• All hospitality premises can operate outdoors until 22:00 for food, non-alcoholic drinks and alcoholic drinks.
• Hotel restaurants will be able to operate beyond 18:00 hours for residents only and without alcohol. The consumption of food and non alcoholic drinks in public areas must cease by 22:00 hours as per the current measures.
• Any funerals or weddings which have been booked to take place during this period are permitted to go ahead under current measures.

All of the above must comply with current physical distancing measures including up to six people from maximum two different households meeting at any one time. Physical distancing between households must remain in place at all times.

The full speech can be found here: https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-update-first-ministers-speech-7-october-2020/