– Make this industry a scapegoat – NRK Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
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More and more countries are reaching new peaks of infection. How to try to reduce the infection is still different from country to country.
Measures around pouring alcohol are something that is solved differently. Norway has taken a line as one of the strongest in Europe.
In Denmark, the pouring stops at 10 pm. In neighboring Sweden, you can be served alcohol at the same time as before, but must sit at the table. In England, it is open as usual.
Norway, for its part, has a full stop to drinking.
The ban is the theme of tonight’s Debate on NRK, which you can follow at the top of the case or on NRK1.
– I fully understand that these are difficult decisions for the government, but the closure of our industry appears to be a “simple” to. The government is turning this industry into a scapegoat. I miss more willingness from the government to find solutions that we can keep open with good infection control measures, as other countries do.
Morten Malmo is regional manager in Rekom. The company operates nightclubs in Norway, Sweden, Denmark and the United Kingdom.
– Other countries have solutions that allow them to stay open with restrictions so that they can keep people in work and not send people out into unemployment.
Strongest in Europe
With restaurants in several other countries, the company gets to experience big differences in the bar rules.
– It’s good for users in the UK. They have a dialogue with the authorities that allows them to stay open with initiatives. Then I wonder why it is not like that in Norway, says Malmo.
NHO Reiseliv confirms to NRK that Norway is the strictest in Europe in terms of rules.
– Yes, we will definitely say that. Norway has chosen an incomprehensible line with a national liquor ban. In a country that has a high degree of vaccination, we think it is a somewhat proportionate initiative, says communications manager Merete Habberstad.
Through the European umbrella organization HOTREC, they have investigated whether there are similar initiatives in other countries.
– We is the only country in Europe that has chosen to use a full liquor ban as an infection control measure. There are no other countries that have introduced it.
Several European countries have today reduced times for serving alcohol, or use corona pass. The Netherlands closed down before Christmas. Bars and restaurants are not allowed to stay open. It is something other than a stop to drinking, Habberstad points out.
– When man says it is legal to operate, but deprives the opportunity to pour alcohol, it becomes an impossible combination.
– Kallows recommendation from our professional authorities
MDG, Venstre and Fremskrittspartiet demand that they stop immediately, and SV asks the government to make a reassessment. The Conservatives, on the other hand, do not want to overrule the government.
– The Conservatives do not intend to do as the Labor Party did in opposition a year ago. Then we saw that the parliamentary majority overruled the government on just this, against all professional recommendations. I think we all learned that was not wise, says Erna Solberg on Tuesday.
Several red-green rapporteurs can also be changed.
Minister of Health Ingvild Kjerkol (Labor Party) says it is expected.
– This affects many. It is an intrusive initiative, says Kjerkol, who rejects that any new assessment will be made before 14 January.
– We received a clear recommendation from our professional authorities that the spread of infection is unfortunately large where people collect and enjoy alcohol. That is the reason why the liquor ban became part of the measures we introduced just before Christmas.
The Minister of Health reminds that Norway before Christmas had one of the world’s largest omicron outbreaks, after the Christmas table at the nightclub Louise in Oslo.
– It is a professional assessment that you gather, serve and entertain people, and it is alcohol that is served, so it is difficult to keep both distance and follow the infection control advice. We also know that bartenders and wait staff are at the top, when we look at infection per occupational group.
However, NHO Reiseliv and Morten Malmo in Rekom are afraid that the industry will have lost important staff and competence before 14 January.
– This is now the third time we have allowed. It is not unnatural for others to look for jobs elsewhere then, says Malmo.