A HOSPITALITY body has said Glasgow should not return to Level 3 restrictions if the Euro fan zone creates a spike in cases, with a final decision expected on it later this week.
Proposals for the are yet to receive final approval from the Scottish Government for the Euro fan zone which could see up to 6000 people per day flock to Glasgow Green to watch the football tournament kicking off on Friday.
However, Glasgow's hospitality sector has just been allowed to open indoors after the city was kept in Level 3 due to a surge in Covid cases.
Stephen Montgomery (below), a spokesman for the Scottish Hospitality Group, said the city's hospitality industry should not face more restrictions if the fan zone causes another spike.
READ MORE: Jason Leitch: 'Perhaps' Euros fan zone will go ahead at Glasgow Green
Speaking to the BBC's Good Morning Scotland, Montgomery said: "As far as we’re concerned, risk versus risk still equals risk.
“We always were told that alcohol was one of the reasons why we weren’t allowed to open up inside and serve alcohol, because people’s inhibitions would go.
“But why are they allowing alcohol at the fan zone?
“We were told way back at the beginning of May by Glasgow City Council that there will be no alcohol at the fan zone – and now we’re having it.
“I think it’s an absolute slap to the hospitality sector within Glasgow.”
READ MORE: Plans for a Euro fan zone in Glasgow will be ‘continually reviewed’, FM says
He added: “Hospitality in Glasgow cannot be forced back into a Level 3 situation after this, because Glasgow didn’t ask for this.”
The city of Glasgow only moved to Level 2 of the Scottish Government's Covid restrictions on Saturday and the decision to set up the fan zone has been seen as controversial.
Attendees are being encouraged to test themselves before going to the fan zone, but a negative result will not be required before entry is granted.
Scotland's national clinical director warned over the weekend that we have to be "careful" with the decision for the fan zone as there are concerns about it happening in a pandemic.
In response to concerns about the proposals, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the plans would be "continually reviewed as public safety continues to be the "overriding priority".
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