The prospect of pubs not opening until a vaccine for Covid-19 is created has been described as a "nightmare scenario" by the Licensed Vintners Association.
The LVA said that situation would result in many public houses going out of business for good. The association was reacting to comments by the Minister for Health in an interview with the Sunday Independent in which he said that he could not visualise people being in packed pubs as long as the virus is still circulating.
He suggested that an effective vaccine or treatment might not be in place until 2021. "That is the absolute nightmare scenario for the entire pub sector.