According to the Connecticut Restaurant Association (CRA), the department of economic community development (DECD) has released new guidelines regarding restaurant and bar service.
The DECD stated that for restaurant bar service, a Plexiglas barrier is no longer necessary when performing duties such as pouring/serving beverages, talking/processing orders, serving food, and delivering/picking up the bill. Six-foot spacing or Plexiglas barriers are still necessary for mixing drinks and performing workstation duties behind the bar. The DECD has mentioned in addition to these guideline changes, it is still necessary for Bartenders/Servers to follow personal protection requirements.
As for Private Events, the rules committee (DECD) has now approved Walk-Up Bar Service for both indoor and outdoor private events.
The following information is provided by the CRA:
Restaurant Bar Seating
According to the Connecticut Restaurant Association, bar seating will be permitted after the following conditions are put into practice:
Bar staff must continue to follow all personal protection requirements; and
Behind-the-bar service is limited to pouring/serving beverages, taking/processing orders, serving food, and delivering/picking up the bill. All mixing of drinks and other work performed behind the bar must be performed at a distance of six (6) feet from customers seated at the bar or a physical barrier (e.g. Plexiglas) must be used if within the six foot spacing, and
The Plexiglas barrier must be at least 30 inches high and a gap/opening at the bottom of the barrier is allowed for food and drink service as long as the gap/opening is no more than 8 inches high
Parties must be seated at bars (no standing customer service) and parties must be spaced at least 6 ft. from other parties.
Indoor and outdoor private events
Bar service allowed only during private events: Walk-up bar service is allowed, provided patrons follow proper social distancing guidelines.
*Please note walk-up bar service is still not permitted at restaurant bars. This update is for Private Events Only
It is suggested that all business owners continue to check in with the department of economic community development (DECD) as information could be subject to change.
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