A plea has been made to Angus pub owners to be vigilant to prevent a local lockdown.
Landlords have been asked to do “all they can” to maintain social distancing and hygiene standards to minimise the risk of coronavirus spreading.
It comes amid fears of Angus being forced into a local lockdown, similar to the one in Aberdeen, following a small cluster of five connected coronavirus cases.
At an Angus Council licensing board meeting on Thursday, independent Carnoustie councillor Brian Boyd said: “We have to make sure under uncertain times that we are doing the right things in terms of social distancing.
“I really don’t want to see Angus falling into the trap that there has to be a blanket ban like we’ve seen in Aberdeen that has affected responsible licence holders.
“The whole of Angus could be closed down and that would be really unfair on the licence holders who have tried really hard to do the right thing in these uncertain times.
“We need to do all we can to make sure Angus does not go back into lockdown, as we have seen in Aberdeen.”
It comes after a police complaint to the board in relation to the Thrums Hotel in Kirriemuir and its owner, David Clark.
Police requested a review into both the premises licence and Mr Clark’s personal licence after they visited the hotel on two consecutive nights last month.
Officers said customers were still on the premises 45 minutes after the hotel’s closing time and that Mr Clark told them he was struggling to maintain social distancing, or convince revellers to leave.
But Mr Clark’s solicitor, Janet Hood, pointed out the Thrums licence is to sell alcohol until 1am and it does not have to close by law, as long as alcohol is no longer being consumed.
She added: “My client denies having difficulties getting people out of the premises or with social distancing.
“Virtually everyone is finding it challenging maintaining social distancing in licensed premises. The guidelines have been very confusing but we have discussed compliance and he will try seriously to make sure all rules and guidance are followed.”
Councillors on the board agreed not to take any formal action but asked a licensing standards officer to visit Thrums to give guidance on coronavirus prevention guidance.
