31 Individuals and Five Food and Beverage Premises Penalised for Breaching Safe Management Measures; Advisory for Qing Ming Festival

05 MAR 2021

31 Individuals and Five Food and Beverage Premises Penalised for Breaching

Safe Management Measures; Advisory for Qing Ming Festival

As part of stepped-up inspections to ensure compliance with Safe Management Measures (SMMs) during the Lunar New Year period, government agencies have conducted regular checks on food and beverage (F&B) premises, malls and other public spaces. Two F&B outlets were ordered to close, while three other outlets were fined for breaching SMMs. 31 individuals were also issued fines for breaching SMMs at parks and beaches.

Two F&B outlets ordered to close

2 Details of the offences committed at the F&B outlets, and the orders for closure are as follows (photos in Annex A):

  1. Club Peaches (Concorde Shopping Mall, 100 Orchard Road) was found to have engaged hostesses, who intermingled with different groups of patrons across multiple tables on 26 February 2021. The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has issued an order requiring the operator to close for 20 days from 27 February to 18 March 2021 (both dates inclusive). This is the club's second offence. It was previously fined $1,000 for seating more than five people at a table during Phase Two and providing games to patrons on 18 December 2020. 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.

  2. Tasty Loong (50 Tiong Bahru Road) was found to have allowed customers to verbalise auspicious sayings followed by toasting, and failed to minimise physical interactions between customers and staff on 20 February 2021. STB has issued an order requiring the operator to close for 10 days from 25 February to 6 March 2021 (both dates inclusive).

Fines issued to three F&B outlets and two operators found guilty of charges

3 Three F&B outlets were fined $1,000 each for seating groups of diners less than one metre apart, and failing to conduct temperature checks prior to admitting customers (see Annex B).

4 Two F&B operators that had previously been charged in court for offences under the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Act 2020 have been found guilty of their charges and fined. Invincible (BBCM) Pte. Ltd. was fined $14,000 for failing to ensure safe distancing between customers and allowing consumption of liquor after 10:30 p.m. at the establishment, while Mark Enterprise Ptd. Ltd. was fined $4,000 for continuing business operations despite being issued an order to close its premises.

Enforcement against 31 individuals for SMM breaches at parks and beaches

5 A total of 31 individuals were fined $300 each for breaching SMMs on 28 February 2021 in parks and beaches managed by the National Parks Board (NParks). These breaches include gathering in groups of more than eight people, such as at Esplanade Park (photo in Annex A).

Continued vigilance during Phase Three

6 Over the Lunar New Year period, the vast majority of F&B premises and individuals have adhered to SMMs. However, there remains a minority who continue to be irresponsible and flout the measures. From 22 January 2021 to 28 February 2021, a total of 19 F&B outlets were ordered to close and 572 individuals and 36 F&B premises were issued fines for breaching SMMs.

7 While the festive period has drawn to a close, the risk of COVID-19 transmission in the community remains. We urge members of the public and operators to remain vigilant and committed to observing SMMs. Members of the public are reminded that large group bookings of more than eight persons for F&B outlets are strictly prohibited, and households are limited to eight unique visitors each day. Where possible, members of public are advised to plan visits to potentially crowded areas such as shopping malls, F&B outlets, markets, supermarkets and parks, during off peak hours.

8 Agencies will continue to conduct enforcement checks at F&B premises, parks, malls and other hotspots. We will not hesitate to take firm enforcement action against errant operators and individuals. This includes fines, suspension of operations even for first offences, and prosecution for egregious breaches.

Safe distancing measures for _ Qing Ming _ Festival

9 The Qing Ming Festival falls on 4 April 2021 this year, with the visiting period expected to last from 20 March to 18 April 2021. In view of the COVID-19 situation and SMMs, the National Environment Agency (NEA) has issued an advisory on 5 March 2021 on stricter crowd control measures. Please refer to NEA's advisory for more details: https://www.nea.gov.sg/media/news/advisories/index/public-advisory-on-safe-distancing-measures-at-government-cemetery-and-columbaria-for-qing-ming-festival. Members of public are encouraged to be socially responsible when visiting cemeteries and columbaria during the period of Qing Ming. Let us all work together to keep Singapore safe.

Annex A

Club Peaches (Concorde Shopping Mall, 100 Orchard Road) was found to have engaged hostesses who intermingled with different groups of patrons across multiple tables on 26 February 2021.

(Photo credit: Singapore Tourism Board)

Tasty Loong (50 Tiong Bahru Road) was found to have allowed customers to verbalise auspicious sayings during toasting, and failed to minimise physical interactions between customers and staff on 20 February 2021.

(Photo credit: Singapore Tourism Board)

12 individuals were fined $300 each for gathering in a group at Esplanade Park on 28 February 2021.

(Photo credit: National Parks Board)

Annex B

F&B Outlets Fined for Breaches of Safe Management Measures

  1. RedDot Brewhouse Pte Ltd, Blk 25A Dempsey Road
  2. Rocky Master, 402 Orchard Road, #01-02/03
  3. Wine Trade, 41 Cuppage Road