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National lockdown will end across England on December 2, and the country will return to the tiered measures it faced before the second lockdown. However, these rules have been bolstered in a bid to reduce the R-rate and bring it below one.
Areas across England will be placed into one of three tiers, with Tier 3 the strictest of these.
This week the Government revealed which areas would be entering which tier, and fresh out of lockdown the majority of the country will be in the two stricter tiers.
The tiers will be reviewed every two weeks, and areas can move both up and down the tier system, potentially facing stricter measures.
In a boost to the hospitality industry, under Tier 1 and Tier 2 restaurants can open and serve customers – however, there are limitations on alcohol.
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What classes as a substantial meal?
Under the Tier 2 restrictions, pubs must close unless they are serving a ‘substantial meal’ and alcohol must only be an accompaniment to this.
In Tier 3, pubs and restaurants must close and can only offer takeaway.
The Government’s Winter Plan lays out these measures and gives a definition of what is classed as a substantial meal.
The plan states a substantial meal is “a full breakfast, main lunchtime or evening meal”.
And this definitely counts out popping to the pub for a packet of crisps.
The Department for Health and Social Care said: “It is clear that there is a difference between a meal and a snack, such as crisps.
“There is no prescribed limit for how long a meal is expected to take, however, we expect people to act reasonably, and for venues to take action to prevent people flouting the rules.
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“Venues will face enforcement action from local authorities where they fail to comply.”
There are also rules on opening hours and how service must be conducted depending on the tier.
In Tier 1:
- hospitality businesses selling food or drink for consumption on their premises are required to:
- provide table service only, for premises that serve alcohol
- close between 11pm and 5am (hospitality venues in airports, ports, on transport services and in motorway service areas are exempt)
- stop taking orders after 10pm
Hospitality businesses and venues selling food and drink for consumption off the premises can continue to do so after 10pm as long as this is through delivery service, click-and-collect or drive-through
In Tier 2:
- pubs and bars must close, unless operating as restaurants. Hospitality venues can only serve alcohol with substantial meals
- hospitality businesses selling food or drink for consumption on their premises are required to:
- provide table service only, in premises which sell alcohol
- close between 11pm and 5am (hospitality venues in airports, ports, transport services and motorway service areas are exempt)
- stop taking orders after 10pm
In Tier 3:
- hospitality settings, such as bars (including shisha venues), pubs, cafes and restaurants are closed
However, they are permitted to continue sales by takeaway, click-and-collect, drive-through or delivery services.
Areas can move up and down the tiers depending on the coronavirus cases and infection rates.
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