A national accreditation and awards scheme aiming to raise safety standards and best practice in licensed venues has postponed its launch.
Best Bar None Scotland now plans to have its official 2020 launch in September.
Best Bar None is now operational in more than 50 towns and cities across Scotland, many of which reported record numbers taking part in 2019.
Areas such as Dumfries and Galloway, East Ayrshire, East Lothian, and Inverness, reported record numbers of venues participating.
Each year participating venues are visited by an independent assessor and judged on their efforts around the prevention of crime and disorder and securing public safety.
Venues are then awarded either a Gold, Silver or Bronze accreditation.
Unfortunately, due to the Covid-19 outbreak and subsequent forced shutdown of all licensed venues, the 2020 Best Bar None Scotland scheme, which was due to officially launch this month, will now be pushed back until September 2020.
Robert Hogg, Best Bar None Scotland’s national coordinator, said: “The Covid-19 enforced shut down has hit everyone involved in the licensed trade particularly hard, but we will get through this.
“Our first priority right now must be everyone’s health, so I urge everyone to follow the Government’s guidelines of self isolating and washing your hands so we can limit the spread of the virus.
“This is how we will get our venues open again, by limiting the spread and helping our NHS, Police, Fire and Ambulance staff.”
