Restaurant and bar owners in Tobago say the Government’s decision to allow them to serve alcohol to customers may not generate sustained business activity owing to the continued closure of the beaches and the restrictions imposed by the state of emergency.

The establishments, which are among the Government’s designated "safe zones," got the green light to begin serving alcohol to vaccinated patrons on Monday at a 50 per cent capacity. Bars and restaurants reopened in early October but were not allowed to sell alcohol.

Nicholas Hardwicke, owner of the Black Rock-based Seahorse Inn Restaurant, welcomed the Government’s gesture but said the situation “is not normal, by any means.

“The key issues affecting business in Tobago is the curfew and the access to the beaches,” he told Newsday.

“The beaches are a big draw for people coming from Trinidad and the curfew means that, in reality, to operate a restaurant in the evening, which is more conventional and traditional dining time, you still have to be closing things up between 8 and 8.30pm to give your staff time to get home for curfew. And that doesn’t align itself well with conventional dining habits for the public who, to date, view it as a disincentive really to come out.”

Hardwicke said while the sale of alcohol is a step in the right direction, it would not be enough to make businesses thrive, given Tobago’s population.

“The keep back certainly in Tobago – it might be different in Trinidad – is the amount of people that are here.

[caption id="attachment_900057" align="alignnone" width="466"] Nicholas Hardwicke[/caption]

"You can’t sustain an active commercial sector, whether it be restaurants, retail or otherwise without the inflow of people from elsewhere, with a small population as we have here.

“So, we need that trade from Trinidad. We need that international visitor trade back into Tobago and with a curfew still in place, with beaches closed, with international access through ANR International airport still curtailed, it’s still pretty bleak. It’s a difficult task.”

Nevertheless, Hardwicke said resuming the sale of alcohol at bars and restaurants is an improvement from three to four months ago.

“There is no question about that. But there is still a long way to go.”

Hardwicke said the Seahorse Inn is complying with the Government’s vaccination policy and covid19 health protocols.

“If you want to be open for business, you have to comply with those protocols and that is the same for everybody.”

He said even before the Government announced its regulations for reopening, most businesses in the private sector concluded that they needed to abide.

The former Tobago Hotel and Tourism Association president said his staff is fully vaccinated.

“I don’t think it is a big ask. Some may claim otherwise but, certainly, it hasn’t been for me and my staff, all of whom were more than willing and more than keen, even without my urging to make sure that they were