Business group apprehensive about potential continuing decline in revenue for hospitality sector
German Hotel and Restaurant Association Challenges Curfews and Alcohol Bans
The German Hotel and Restaurant Association (DEHOGA) has voiced its concerns over the implementation of curfews and alcohol bans following the coronavirus crisis. These measures, according to DEHOGA, are causing significant harm to the already struggling hospitality industry.
From next Saturday, restaurants and bars in Berlin, among other places, will have to close from 11:00 PM to 6:00 AM. This move, DEHOGA argues, will lead to drastic revenue losses for businesses, potentially threatening their survival.
Ingrid Hartges, DEHOGA's CEO, has expressed her dismay at the unexplained bans, calling for politicians to provide clear justification for the restrictions. She believes that such measures, imposed on businesses behaving responsibly, are disproportionate.
Hoteliers in cities where opening hours have been reduced and alcohol bans applied have reported drops of 50 to 70 percent. The association warns that these revenue losses increase when a city or district is designated a risk area.
The uncertainty caused by such designations often leads to travel and restaurant visits being cancelled, further exacerbating the financial strain on the industry.
DEHOGA contends that curfews and alcohol bans do not significantly reduce virus transmission. The spread, they suggest, is more related to private gatherings and non-compliance elsewhere rather than activities in licensed establishments following hygiene rules.
The association emphasizes that hospitality businesses adhere to strict hygiene and distancing regulations, making curfews and bans an unfair and disproportionate punishment compared to other sectors.
DEHOGA also warns that these measures might push social activities into unregulated private gatherings or underground venues, where virus control is more difficult.
Instead of broad bans, DEHOGA advocates for more targeted interventions focused on specific high-risk areas or behaviors, with cooperation rather than blanket restrictions. This approach, they believe, would be more effective in controlling the virus while minimizing the economic impact on the hospitality sector.
In essence, DEHOGA's arguments centre on protecting the economic viability of the hospitality sector, questioning the effectiveness and proportionality of curfews and alcohol bans, and urging for more nuanced, evidence-based public health measures.
The German Hotel and Restaurant Association (DEHOGA) encourages policymakers to consider the financial impact of curfews and alcohol bans on other industries, such as finance and business, as these restrictions may drive revenue losses and potentially force businesses to close. Ingrid Hartges, DEHOGA's CEO, has urged politicians to provide evidence justifying the restrictions, arguing that they disproportionately affect responsible hospitality businesses compared to other sectors.
