Prohibition—a tragic time during the 1920s in America where the consumption, possession and sale of alcoholic beverages had to be halted to devote people’s time and resources toward the war effort. Not many of us were alive back then to bear witness to such a trying saga. But fast forward a century later, we just might. And the cause? Coronavirus a.k.a COVID-19.
Hong Kong has put a temporary stop to the sale of alcohol, preventing licensed bars and restaurants in the city from serving alcohol as the city sees the second wave of imported coronavirus cases, which as it stands, numbers in a total of 356 confirmed cases and four deaths.
About 8,600 restaurants and bars within the city will be slapped with an alcohol ban but will, for now, be allowed to remain open. The ban has not taken effect just yet, but emergency legislation is still in the midst of a discussion.
SUSPENSION OF ALCOHOL SALES
The sudden ban comes after many of last week’s slew of confirmed cases were found among patients who had all been out in Lan Kwai Fong. (LKF) For the uninitiated, LKF is Hong Kong’s most famous and notorious nightlife destination. It also aims to manage the spread of the virus—a compromise, if you will—, to reduce the number of people gathering in public spaces and socialising in big groups without ordering a city-wide lockdown and shutting down local f&b businesses… Which have all inevitably been affected in light of the pandemic.
Personally, we feel the measures are a tad drastic. It’s practical, sure. But our opinion stands that if the Hong Kong government were to issue the ban, then they better be able to support these f&b establishments in some way by means of staff wages, rent and so on. Businesses, especially bars, eateries and restaurants will struggle. We can only hope and pray that they’ll tide through the storm with minimal losses.
Supermarkets, convenience stores and alcohol retailers will be an exception to the temporary ban. If you need to booze, stock up and do so within the confines of your own home (or someone else’s). For the sake of the majority, exercise some restraint no matter how difficult it is.
TRAVEL BANS
Non-residents, including tourists, will be banned from entering Hong Kong for two weeks starting Wednesday, 25 March 2020, following a sudden spike in the number of new COVID-19 cases fuelled largely by people returning from overseas.
The only exceptions are individuals returning from Macau and Taiwan. These people upon returning would have to undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine.
All photos are credited to Lan Kwai Fong Hong Kong.
Read our tips for bars and restaurants during COVID-19.
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