There’ll be no nursing a pint at the bar.

But apart from strict table service rules and an 11.30pm closing time, it looks like Ireland’s embattled ‘wet’ pubs could be allowed to reopen before the end of September, after enduring the longest industry lockdown in Europe.

According to draft Fáilte Ireland guidelines seen by vintners over the weekend, it seems that pubs large enough to allow for 2m social distancing between customers who are not from the same household may not need to put a time limit in place.

In bars where only 1m of physical distancing between customers is available, publicans will likely be required to operate time slots such as the 105 minutes allowed in restaurants and pubs that serve food.

According to the proposals, drinkers will be allowed to leave their seats to go to the smoking area, but they will be asked to remain seated there too.

All customers will be required to be off the premises before 11.30pm and all staff must wear face coverings unless they are working behind a protective screen.

More details on pub reopenings are expected to be announced in a new national Covid-19 plan set to be published on September 14th, 2020.