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The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) has revoked the license of three Food and Beverage (F&B) outlets that were ex-nightlife operators after they breached Safe Management Measures (SMMs).

Food licenses revoked for 3 nightlife establishments

According to a press release by the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE), the three F&B outlets are: 3 Kings Pub, Club Diamond, and DMAX.

These outlets were formerly operating as nightlife establishments before pivoting to F&B.

This is the first time that licenses of F&B outlets have been revoked for breaching SMMs since the implementation of an enhanced penalty framework in May 2021.

Their multiple breaches include failing to minimise interaction between staff and customers, allowing groups of more than two people to sit together, and playing music.

They must cease operations with immediate effect.

Located at Lucky Plaza, 3 Kings Pub failed to ensure safe distancing of at least one metre between groups of customers, allowed groups larger than two persons to eat and drink together at the same table, and played music on July 2, 2021.

SFA has revoked the operator’s F&B licence, and issued an order requiring the operator to cease operations with immediate effect from July 15, 2021. The operator was previously ordered to close for 10 days from July 3 to 12, 2021.

Peony Garden Food House, also known as Club Diamond, is located at Oriental Plaza.

The operator failed to minimise physical interaction between staff and customers, and allowed a group larger than two persons to eat and drink together in a private room on July 2, 2021.

SFA has revoked the operator’s F&B licence, and issued an order requiring the operator to cease operations with immediate effect from July 15, 2021. The operator was previously ordered to close for 10 days from July 3 to 12, 2021.

On June 25, 2021, DMAX at Golden Mile Tower failed to minimise physical interaction between staff and customers, allowed groups larger than two persons to sit together, allowed music to be played, and provided forms of entertainment such as playing cards. They also failed to enable contact tracing of every customer entering the permitted premises.

SFA has revoked the operator’s F&B licence, and issued an order requiring the operator to cease operations with immediate effect from July 15, 2021.

Temporary pivot to F&B

Nightlife establishments were allowed to pivot temporarily to F&B from October 2020.

However, a number of establishments continue to operate nightlife activities, which are currently prohibited. Such activities include employing hostesses or permitting freelance hostesses to serve and drink with multiple groups of customers.

Others have also "flagrantly flouted SMMs in the process", MSE said.

Common SMM breaches by these nightlife operators include failing to prevent large groups of patrons from intermingling and allowing live entertainment (eg. live singing and dancing, playing of musical instruments) and games (eg. dice and billiards).

Fines issued to 11 outlets and 31 individuals

In addition, 11 F&B outlets and 31 individuals were fined for breaching SMMs.

The following 11 premises were fined between S$1,000 to S$2,000 each for breaching SMMs:

1. Al Mubin Eating House (92 Syed Alwi Road)
2. Barakath Restaurant (11 Dalhousie Lane)
3. Food Republic (313 Somerset)
4. Golden Treasure Restaurant (No. 70 Lor 25A Geylang)
5. Haakon (313 Somerset B2-53/53A )
6. Mamita’s Kitchen (Lucky Plaza #02-60)
7. Plentyfull Deli (Great World City #B1-K119)
8. Ristorante Luka (18 Tanjong Pagar Road)
9. The Dark Gallery (Ngee Ann City B2-29)
10. Yue Yu Restaurant (No.66 Lor 25A Geylang)
11. &Joy Dining Hall (Great World City #B1-133)

Breaches include seating groups of customers less than one metre apart and allowing groups of more than two individuals who were not from the same household to be seated across multiple tables, and allowing alcohol consumption on their premises beyond 10:30pm.

24 individuals were fined S$300 each for gathering in groups larger than the permitted group size while dining at various F&B outlets, while seven staff were fined S$300 for failing to wear masks.

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Top photos by Singapore Tourism Board and Enterprise Singapore.