BOATT: Bar Owners Being Wrongfully Accused

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President of the Barkeepers’ and Owners’ Association (BOATT) Satesh Moonasar says bars are being wrongfully accused of flaunting the public health regulations.
In a release on Friday, Moonasar acknowledged that some bar owners/operators are flaunting the current health guidelines and the association is working with the TTPS to alleviate it.

However, he said in most cases bar owners/operators are being wrongfully accused “as these establishments are not classified as bars but are actually restaurants.”
“The general public and the media needs to understand that these establishments are classified based on the type of license they hold and the services they offer. Once you are a holder of a special restaurant lisence and serve food you are not classified as a bar you are classified as a restaurant and the current Health Ordinance allows restaurant to operate with in-house dining at 50% capacity with no consumption of alcohol,” Moonasar explained.

However, he also said that restaurants are using a loophole in the system and serving alcohol in disposable cups, glasses and teacups, however, “the general public and media are placing the blame solely on bars wrongfully.”


He said because alcohol consumption is allowed everywhere else in public spaces it leaves the TTPS with a difficult situation as there is little to nothing that they can legally do to stop this practice.

“The Barkeepers and Operators Association of Trinidad and Tobago stands firm by its position that everyone should have equal opportunity and the current Health Ordinance and restrictions are creating a bigger problem than the one we are trying to solve. The association stands ready and willing to discuss this very important situation with all relevant stakeholders in an effort to ensure the health and safety of the public of Trinidad and Tobago,” he said.

Reporter: Rishard Khan

CNC3 Editor
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