May 14, 2021, 10:27 PM
To curb Covid-19 community transmissions, government agencies in Singapore have stepped-up enforcement checks on food and beverage (F&B) premises and other public spaces.
10 premises ordered to close
On May 14, the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE) announced in a press release that 10 F&B premises have been ordered to shut down.
Six out of the ten are former nightlife establishments which have pivoted to the F&B industry, as such establishments have not been allowed to operate in their original form since March 2020.
The reason given is that the "nature of their activities" carries a greater risk of disease transmission.
Tougher penalties
Might revoke food licenses
MSE said in its press release that the breaches committed by this group are "flagrant and carry much higher public health risks".
Thus, agencies will adopt enhanced measures to take effective action against "egregious breaches" committed by such establishments.
SFA cited several examples of what it considers are "egregious breaches", such as having hostesses who intermingled with patrons across multiple tables, allowing a group of 51 (!) people and having live entertainment.
So with effect from this month (May 2021), the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) will begin revoking the Food licences of errant operators.
Establishments which lose their food license must cease operations with immediate effect until the nightlife sector is allowed to reopen in future, or until their re-application for a new food licence is approved.
Might revoke liquor licenses
Government agencies might also revoke the Public Entertainment and Liquor licenses of errant operators.
If that happens, they can't sell liquor or provide public entertainment even if the sector resumes.
Must file a 'Change of Use' application
Additionally, with immediate effect, MSE said that nightlife operators who want to convert to food and beverage (F&B) must file a 'Change of Use' (COU) application with the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA).
They will be required to submit a proposed business concept or operational details, and a layout plan showing the usage of the proposed F&B establishment premises.
They must also submit plans to remove any bar-related signages or paraphernalia for URA’s assessment. SFA will only proceed to process the food licence application upon URA's approval for the premises to be converted.
Operators may reach out to the Singapore Nightlife Business Association at [email protected] for more information.
While URA had earlier provided endorsements to facilitate nightlife operators to temporarily pivot to F&B operations, these operators must now apply for COU application by the end of their one-year validity of these endorsements.
Nightlife establishments may continue to apply for a grant of up to S$50,000 from Enterprise Singapore (ESG) to defray qualifying costs incurred during the COU process. This support is available up till Sep. 30, 2021.
Establishments ordered to close
Details of the F&B premises that were ordered to close are as follows:
Nightlife Operators which pivoted to F&B operations
1. Club Illusion (3A River Valley Road, #03-01)
Club Illusion allowed intermingling between groups of customers and gatherings of more than eight persons on April 23.
The URA ordered it closed for 10 days from May 6 to May 15 (both dates inclusive).
2. English Football Museum (3D River Valley Road, #02-02)
The English Football Museum also allowed intermingling between groups of customers and gatherings of more than eight persons on April 23.
The URA ordered it closed for 10 days from May 8 to May 17 (both dates inclusive).
3. Haru (3 Magazine Rd #01-01 Central Mall)
Haru allowed gatherings of more than eight persons on May 7.
The URA ordered it closed for 10 days from May 9 to May 18 (both dates inclusive).
4. Destiny Japanese KTV (5 Koek Road, #04-20/22, Cuppage Plaza)
Destiny Japanese KTV failed to minimise interaction between staff and customers on May 7.
As a repeat offender, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has ordered it to close for 30 days from May 8 to June 6 (both dates inclusive).
5. One 4 D’Road Bar (545 Orchard Road, #02-21, Far East Shopping Centre)
One 4 D'Road Bar had allowed entry to freelance hostesses that were not employees of the bar, failed to minimise interaction between hostesses and customers, and screened music videos to customers on May 8.
STB has ordered its closure for 10 days from May 9 to May 18 (both dates inclusive).
6. MZS Family Karaoke (21 Cuscaden Road, #B1-01/02, Ming Arcade)
MZS Family Karaoke allowed customers to consume alcohol after 10.30pm on May 8.
As a repeat offender, STB has ordered the operator to close for 20 days from May 9 to May 28 (both dates inclusive).
Other F&B premises
7. The Malayan Council (71 Bussorah St)
This is the restaurant's third offence. It had failed to ensure at least one metre safe distancing between seated customers on May 2.
URA has ordered the operator to close for 10 days from May 8 to May 17 (both dates inclusive).
8. Jag’s @ Siglap (922 East Coast Rd)
Jag's had served alcohol to customers after 10.30pm on May 7.
URA has ordered the establishment to close for 10 days from May 13 to May 22 (both dates inclusive).
9. Siem Reap Indochine (44 Lor Mambong)
Siem Reap Indochine allowed gatherings of more than five persons on May 8.
URA has ordered the establishment to close for 10 days from May 13 to May 22 (both dates inclusive).
10) New Udon Thai Food (5001 Beach Road #01-66B, Golden Mile Complex)
The restaurant had failed to ensure 1-metre safe distancing between different groups of diners on April 9.
As this is its third offence, Enterprise Singapore (ESG) has ordered the establishment to close for 10 days from May 7 to May 16 (both dates inclusive).
20 F&B outlets fined
Another 20 F&B outlets have been issued composition fines for breaching SMMs.
17 of them were fined S$1,000 each. Breaches included seating groups of customers less than one metre apart, not ensuring queueing customers were more than one metre apart, playing videos for customers, and providing dice games.
The three other outlets were fined S$2,000 each for repeated offences of seating groups of customers less than one metre apart, playing videos for customers, providing dice games and poker cards, and providing self-service buffet.
The 20 outlets
- Beau (25 Haji Lane)
- Blu Kouzina (10 Dempsey Road #01-20)
- Blueberry Hill Pub & Café (20 Jalan Leban, Sembawang Hills Estate)
- Bukit Batok 105 Food House (150 Bukit Batok Street 11 #01-246)
- Central Perk Café (1 Magazine Road #01-01 Central Mall) (second offence)
- Dempsey Project (9 Dempsey Road #01-12)
- Derwish Turkish (32 Bussorah Street)
- Eng’s Char Siew Wantan Mee (430 Upper Changi Road #01-08/09)
- Great Eater (155 Bukit Batok Street 11 #01-324)
- Jumbo (11 Dempsey Road #01-16)
- La Forketta (9 Dempsey Road #01-09)
- Lepak @ Rayz (62 Bussorah Street)
- NY Night Market (313 Orchard Road, #01-29, 313@Somerset)
- Padi Bussorah (53 Bussorah Street)
- Piedra Negra (23 Arab Street)
- Steamov (367/369 Beach Road) (second offence)
- The Malayan Council (10 Winstedt Road) (second offence)
- Titanium Pub (19 Tanglin Road, #B1-04, Tanglin Shopping Centre)
- Two Men Bagel House (17D Lor Liput, Holland Village)
- Wine Company (8 Dempsey Hill)
Top image from English Football Museum/FB.
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