Representatives of the North of Ireland’s pub industry said they will meet Stormont ministers later seeking “urgent” measures to help reopen non-food bars or ‘wet pubs’.
Drink-only bars which cannot trade due to COVID-19 restrictions are “losing thousands of pounds” weekly, according to Hospitality Ulster.
Its chief executive said many traditional pubs may never reopen unless the Stormont Executive takes action soon.
Colin Neill said pubs should be allowed to reopen with safety measures.
He said they will meet junior ministers involved in COVID-19 safety regulations.
The North of Ireland’s pubs and restaurants which serve food with alcohol reopened on Friday, July 3, after months of closure due to the Coronavirus outbreak.
However, the easing of lockdown restrictions has not yet been extended to drinks-only bars, which still cannot serve alcohol indoors.
Mr Neill said traditional non-food pubs should be given the same chance as other businesses to show they can comply with Covid-19 safety measures.
“What we need to see are regulations that apply to everybody in the hospitality sector regardless of business type or licence type,” he said.
“Let everyone open and anyone who is irresponsible – shut them.”
“Let’s get all our pubs open and then it’s about enforcing the regulations on anyone that ignores them.”
Since licensed premises reopened two months ago, the Police Service of Northern Ireland has served 33 prohibition notices for unsafe activity.
PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne and Chief Medical Officer Dr Michael McBride joined PSNI officers on routine patrol of bars and restaurants in Belfast city centre on Saturday night.
Mr Byrne said the “vast majority” of businesses were following Covid-19 regulations but he said one licensed premises was closed by officers after it was issued with a prohibition notice.
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