Nine Premises Penalised for Breaching Safe Management Measures

Nine Premises Penalised for Breaching Safe Management Measures

Six food and beverage (F&B) premises have been ordered to close, while three F&B premises have been issued composition fines for breaches of Safe Management Measures (SMMs). The breaches were uncovered during government agencies' regular checks on F&B premises, malls and other public spaces to ensure compliance with SMMs.

Six premises ordered to close

2 Details of the offences committed at the six premises ordered to close are as follows:

1. Club Mao by Barcode (#03-04/05 Oriental Plaza) had failed to minimise physical interactions between staff and customers by allowing staff to host groups of customers at different tables on 19 March 2021. The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has issued an order requiring the operator to close for 30 days from 20 March to 18 April 2021 (both dates inclusive). The establishment was previously ordered to close on 12 December 2020 under the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Act 2020. Three customers at Club Mao by Barcode were also issued composition fines of $300 each for allegedly failing to keep a 1 metre distance from others when mingling with customers from another group. Further investigations are ongoing for the alleged breaches of SMMs at the establishment.

2. Club Bubbery Pte. Ltd (#04-01 Oriental Plaza),operating under the business name Club Nexus KTV,had failed to minimise physical interactions between staff and customers by allowing staff to host groups of customers across different tables on 19 March 2021. STB has issued an order requiring the operator to close for 10 days from 20 March to 29 March 2021 (both dates inclusive).

3. De Luxy (#05-17 Bugis Cube)was found to have allowed customers to consume alcohol after 10.30pm on 24 February 2021. The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) has issued an order requiring the operator to close for 10 days from 21 to 30 March 2021 (both dates inclusive).

4. Kiss Bistro (79A Boat Quay) was found to have allowed customers to consume alcohol after 10.30pm on 19 March 2021. URA has issued an order requiring the operator to close for 10 days from 21 to 30 March 2021 (both dates inclusive).

5. SK Karaoke Pub (279 Joo Chiat) was found to have allowed customers to consume alcohol after 10.30pm on 19 March 2021. URA has issued an order requiring the operator to close for 10 days from 21 to 30 March 2021 (both dates inclusive).

6. Steamov Restaurant (367 Beach Road) was found to have allowed customers to consume alcohol after 10.30pm on 19 March 2021. URA has issued an order requiring the operator to close for 10 days from 21 to 30 March 2021 (both dates inclusive).

Fines issued to three premises

3 Details of the offences committed at the premises are as follows:

1. Destiny Japanese KTV Pub Pte Ltd (#04-20/22 Cuppage Plaza) was issued a composition fine of $2,000 for providing games for customers to play on 20 March 2021. Under the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) (Control Order) Regulations 2020, F&B establishments are not permitted to provide games if they are not also an amusement centre. The establishment was previously issued a composition fine for a breach of SMMs.

2. Chinatown Seafood Restaurant, also known as Ba Dao Guan (2/4 Trengganu Street), was issued a composition fine of $2,000 for failing to minimise interaction between staff and customers respectively on 20 March 2021, as required under the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) (Control Order) Regulations 2020. The establishment was previously issued a composition fine for a breach of SMMs.

3. Alankar Restaurant (98 Dunlop Street) was issued a composition fine of $1,000 for seating different groups of customers less than 1 metre apart on 24 March 2021.

4 Agencies will continue to step up enforcement checks at F&B premises, parks, malls and other hotspots. Firm enforcement action will be taken against errant operators and individuals. This includes fines, suspension of operations even for first offences, and prosecution for egregious breaches. Even with our vaccination programme underway, and the resumption of more activities, the risks of COVID-19 community transmission remains. It is particularly important to mitigate the risks at F&B establishments through strict compliance with safe distancing and safe management measures, as patrons are unmasked for long periods of time. We urge all members of the public and F&B operators to remain vigilant and to continue adhering to SMMs, even for those who are vaccinated against COVID-19.