Nightclubs unable to open for both drinking and dancing at the same time under SA Health rules
Drinking is in. Dancing is in. But both at the same time is banned. Frustrated nightclub owners have had to scuttle their reopenings – or ban the dance floor.
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Dancing while drinking alcohol at licensed venues is on hold indefinitely due to a coronavirus administrative delay, scuttling plans for the state’s nightclubs to reopen dancefloors within days.
Venue operators have expressed their frustration and disappointment at a minimum two-week wait in processing special COVID-19 “management plans”.
Club bosses were told on Wednesday they could not yet submit compulsory plans for SA Health approval, dashing hopes of a return to pre-lockdown night-life.
The State Government framework, which is still being developed, will also impact weddings, birthdays and other events in licensed venues where patrons would expect to both drink and dance.
Premier Steven Marshall last week announced nightclubs could reopen from Monday this week but needed the “more detailed” COVID Management Plan to identify and mitigate specific risks.
People can now drink alcohol at hotel bars as venues double capacity. Nightclubs had expected to open subject to approval of “unique” plans outlining how social distancing of one person per 2sq m and other “high risk” activities – such as dancing 1.5m apart – would be policed.
But SA Health documents obtained by The Advertiser state while either liquor or dancing is allowed, “both activities cannot occur together” without management plans.
The fact sheet, published on Wednesday, states the “application and approval process … is under development”. Encouraging venues to “plan ahead”, it states approval would take at least two weeks once submitted. Many clubs were preparing for normal operations, hiring staff and ordering stock.
But some will now remain closed. For those trading, such as Hindley St venues the Dog and Duck and Woolshed, patrons can drink to music but dancing is banned.
Australian Hotels Association SA general manager Ian Horne, said the industry expectation was changes would not occur until next month.
“It is a pretty tough test and we don’t even know what that is yet as it is such a complex set of rules,” he said. “Nightclubs have been effectively shut down since March and there is a level of frustration.”
West End Association president Andrew Wallace added: “As much as we completely understand the need for a considered approach towards reopening ... when a decision is made, the processes need to be in place so small businesses have a clear application (system).”
Dog and Duck owner Dave O’Connell said his venue could safely hold dancing patrons after three months of lockdown, as it was opening at a third of its almost 1000 person capacity. “You are not going to open a nightclub on Hindley St with just dancing and no drinking,” he said.
Loverboy co-owner Harrison Raphael said his Hindley St venue would remain closed due to the dance ban, adding the “red tape” was disappointing.
“It seems like it is the blind leading the blind,” he said.
“The Government was happy to announce to the public when nightclubs could open, but there is nothing in place. It is a stab in the dark at the moment.”
Police Commissioner and state co-ordinator Grant Stevens, also part of the Government’s Transition Committee, said authorities were working with industry to help venues.
“I would be surprised if there would be many, if any, that have been able to work through the … process before this weekend,” he said.
“They will be able to operate but probably more in the traditional format as opposed to a nightclub.”
An SA Health spokeswoman said nightclub dancing had a higher risk of virus transmission because of the numbers of people involved, being indoors, consumption of alcohol and the “likelihood of prolonged contact with strangers”. “Other risks may also be present in how people travel to and from the event, assemble, enter and exit, and behave at the event,” she said.
“In the coming weeks, we will provide detail for how anyone who wants to develop a … management plan can do so.”