New rules cut short new year’s celebrations at city bars

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This article was published 28/12/2021 (1409 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Winnipeg bars and nightclubs have cancelled New Year’s Eve parties or temporarily closed their doors altogether, after the province imposed tighter capacity limits and banned alcohol sales after 10 p.m. amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Business owners described the measures, which went into effect Tuesday to try to slow a rapid rise of infections, as another blow to Manitoba’s hospitality industry at what is usually a busy time of year.

Chris Graves, owner of the King’s Head Pub in the Exchange District, predicted he would have to lay off staff due to a downturn in customers and sales.

“It’s extremely frustrating. Really, the only restrictions they announced affected our industry, which is an unfortunate thing,” Graves said Tuesday. “It affects a lot of us greatly.”

He was left to wonder why the Tory government hasn’t imposed a full lockdown to combat the spread of the more contagious Omicron variant. “If you really want to curb it, why wouldn’t you shut it down before Christmas?”

Graves called on the province to provide further financial relief to the industry, fearing some restaurants or bars struggling with debt could go out of business.

He estimated the King’s Head will miss out on up to $15,000 in sales on its busiest nights after being forced to reduce capacity. The pub usually has 20 employees working such nights, but now has only six.

Gatherings must not exceed 50 per cent of the usual capacity or 250 people, whichever is less, under new rules announced Monday by Premier Heather Stefanson and Dr. Brent Roussin, chief provincial public health officer.

That applies to everything from bars and restaurants to museums and religious services. Liquor sales in restaurants and licensed premises are not allowed after 10 p.m.

The restrictions are due to expire Jan. 11.

Both Graves and Erick Casselman, owner of the Park Theatre in South Osborne, predicted the 10 p.m. cutoff, which has been used previously, would lead to an increase in house parties.

“This is the third time we’ve been down this road,” said Graves. “When people left at 10 p.m. (previously), I would watch them go to house parties. You don’t have those rules and regulations because no one is checking vaccination cards at house parties.

“It’s ridiculous. There’s no scientific evidence we’re more prone to get COVID drinking after 10 p.m.”

The King’s Head has been closed since the previous round of restrictions, which forced indoor spaces such as restaurants and bars to reduce capacity by 50 per cent, was announced Dec. 17.

It had planned to reopen Wednesday.

Graves said a wedding was to be held on the top floor New Year’s Eve, but the booking was cancelled Tuesday as health orders took effect.

The Park Theatre cancelled its New Year’s Eve party after the government announced new capacity limits Dec. 17.

Casselman is debating whether to go ahead with other scheduled events before the current rules are due to end Jan. 11.

“Part of you thinks the new restrictions are not enough. We’re trying not to overburden the hospitals, but part of you thinks it’s super frustrating as a business,” said Casselman. “We keep getting hammered over and over again.

“This time of year is usually when we catch up on our bills and debt. Hopefully, we all make it through to the other side of this.”

Several local bars and nightclubs announced temporary closures or cancellations as restrictions tightened.

In an Instagram post, the Yellow Dog Tavern said it was shutting its doors for now.

“Due to the state of things and staff waiting on test results, we have made the decision to close until further notice,” Monday’s post stated. “The health and safety of our staff and patrons is our main priority.”

Two other downtown venues, Fame Nightclub and Club 200, cancelled their respective New Year’s Eve parties.

“With the new health restrictions, I am sad to say we have to cancel another NYE,” a post on Fame’s Instagram account stated Tuesday.

Meantime, Dr. Eric Jacobsohn, an anesthesiologist and critical care physician in Winnipeg, called for a full lockdown to reduce the spread of the novel coronavirus.

“Why would one not do the safe thing and say, ‘Let’s ratchet down for a few weeks?’” he said. “We are living in a city, a province where the health-care system has barely coped and that’s putting it kindly.”

Dr. Aleeza Gerstein, assistant professor of microbiology and statistics at the University of Manitoba, was concerned about the health and safety of those who are unable to work from home.

“I don’t think anyone should be forced to go to work in an unsafe environment that will potentially put them in harm’s way,” said Gerstein. “Employers should be doing everything possible to keep their employees safe and government should have policies in place… that continue to get money into people’s bank accounts.”

Manitoba NDP health critic Uzoma Asagwara said hospitality business owners and workers are in “desperate need” of financial support.

“The government needs to provide direct support to people affected by these restrictions,” said Asagwara.

On Dec. 22, the province introduced the Sector Support Program, which it said will provide up to $22 million to businesses affected by public health orders.

A spokeswoman for Stefanson urged Manitobans to “limit their close contacts” and follow the rules.

“Many factors, including enforcement and public buy-in, are taken into consideration when developing public health orders,” the spokeswoman said.

chris.kitching@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @chriskitching