Bars and clubs will be able to open, but they will have "damn loss"

A “damn loss” due to a decision “that doesn't make any sense”. Bars and clubs will even be able to open from 1st August, but in the Algarve, businessmen in the sector are against the molds defined by the Government.

The decision was taken this Thursday, July 30th, by the Government, in the Council of Ministers: bars and clubs are allowed to open this Saturday, August 1st, becoming cafes and patisseries, «without the need to change the classification of economic activity», is read in the document by António Costa's executive.

Even so, these establishments, like the restaurants, can only admit people until 00:00, closing obligatorily at 1:00 (in the Lisbon and Vale do Tejo region they have to close until 20:00). As for clubs, they are even prohibited from having open dance floors as such.

This might seem like good news for an industry that continues to suffer the consequences of Covid-19, but is this how Algarve business people see it?

Liberto Mealha is one of the references of the Algarve night. heard by Sul Informação, the owner of Liberto's Club and the Kiss disco, in Albufeira, was not mild in his criticisms.

“For clubs, this doesn't make any sense. These are incompatible schedules. For bars, it may be feasible, but closing at 1:00 am is always a damned loss. It doesn't do for anything. If the virus is awake until 1:00 am, it is also until 4:00 am,” he said.

Because, he explained, "until now, the bars were working until 2:00, with the issue of not admitting anyone else after 23:00."

Now, there is one more hour to admit people, but also one less hour of work, which means that the Kiss discotheque won't even open – even though it can legally do so.

"Not worth it. Opening implies a great deal of scope. I have to buy furniture to occupy the dance floor, equipment to work, security. What is this for? To admit people until midnight? Under normal conditions, midnight was when I opened the door to start work. It's better to keep it closed,” he said bluntly.

As for Liberto's Club, in Albufeira, which also has a restaurant, it will remain open, but the economic impacts «have been noticed».

"It's complicated. The seating limitation dropped to a third, we canceled the dance floor. We have tables and chairs and seats are occupied. There are few people standing, just in case they go to the toilets. There is a smaller turnout. The Algarve is doomed this year, there is a lack of foreign tourists and, as a result, there are soon fewer people on the streets», he said.

Across the Algarve capital, the impacts on the restaurant and bar sector are also felt. Miguel Gião is one of the owners of Columbus (bar) and Aperitivo e Lodo restaurants, in Faro.

“We are way below normal, we are working at 25% of what would be normal. People, at this time, enjoy the beach until later and it becomes very difficult to work due to time restrictions. The economy doesn't move", began by considering the Sul Informação.

The new rules, which allow the reopening of clubs and bars, are also not well regarded by this entrepreneur, namely due to the change in schedules. “Basically, they're taking an hour off of us. We are even more conditioned», he said.

“As for the clubs, when people start arriving, they have to leave. This is even worse," he shot.

Tomé Mangas, from Portimão, doesn't even consider reopening the historic Kateral nightclub in Praia da Rocha.

«In my opinion, with these measures, they are covering the sun with the sieve. Sounds anecdotal. If it wasn't true, it made me want to laugh», he considered to the Sul Informação.

«Who lives on this business alone will do what? People cannot dance, there is no dance floor,” he added.

The Mixx bar, in Praia da Rocha, which is also managed by Tomé Mangas, will remain open, but far from normal. “For example, the summer reinforcements will be much less than usual. I'll just put in some workers due to the terraces, because it's hardly justified in terms of invoicing», he said.

From the perspective of the entrepreneur, it is natural that those who come on vacation want to have fun. At a time when safety is the watchword, spaces with rules, such as bars and clubs, would be the most appropriate, because, otherwise, «we are promoting what is illegal».

«This sector, whether you like it or not, is one of the pillars of the Algarve's economy. Public health comes first, of course, but with this they are also promoting illegal parties, without security conditions or surveillance», he concluded.

Photos: Flavio Costa | Sul Informação