Earlier restrictions for restaurants will destroy sector, union says

If the new restrictions in the opening hours of restaurants and cafes take effect earlier that the new year they will destroy the sector, the association of restaurant owners (POESE) have told the Greek government.

“New restrictions on the food service sector without support measures are tantamount to destroying the industry,” POESE said in a letter to Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Finance Minister Christos Staikouras, Development Minister Adonis Georgiadis.

According to the union, businesses have bought supplies and have numerous reservations from customers who want to ring in the new year in restaurants and bars, but limiting opening hours to midnight “will be disastrous.”

The new restrictions will be added to the existing ones, “essentially placing the sector in lockdown, without any supportive measures,” it added.