The new measures announced by the Legault government last Wednesday, including the curfew for at least a month, continue to make people talk. They will require a small period of adaptation from the population and from entrepreneurs, including restaurateurs… again. Here's what's important to know about the curfew and your relationship with restaurants!
First, remember that you will be prohibited from being outside or around your home after 8 p.m. and until 5 a.m. the next morning. Unless you are an essential worker. And our restaurants, fortunately, are essential!
In fact, they are among a very short list of businesses that can remain open after 7:30 p.m., along with pharmacies and gas stations.
This will allow restaurants to continue delivery after 8 p.m. The restaurant still has to manage its own delivery system or deal with a third-party delivery service, despite the high commission fees.
Fortunately, this means that restaurant owners will henceforth be the only ones, at least until February 8, who can sell and deliver alcohol between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. Rare good news since last March and an opportunity for these entrepreneurs. In addition, the Société des alcools du Québec (SAQ) has announced that it will close its doors shortly before curfew every evening.
So if you want an alcoholic beverage to end your night of confinement, call your favorite restaurant, order a dish and add your favorite bottle to it!
However, it will be impossible for them to receive customers for take-out after 7:30 p.m., which is too early depending on the day of the week. The peak period is a little over 7:30 p.m., especially on weekends. The room for maneuver for restaurateurs is again reduced.
Over the past few days, however, convenience stores have signaled that they too want to be able to deliver food and alcohol during curfew. However, no decision has been rendered.
Will they succeed in putting obstacles in the wheels of the restaurants which, let us remember, have been penalized more often than in turn since last March?
