Pubs banned from serving alcohol in Wales from Friday, says Mark Drakeford

Pubs, bars, restaurants and cafes in Wales will be forced to stop selling alcohol and to shut by 6pm in a new round of restrictions that begin on Friday night, First Minister Mark Drakeford has said. The new regulations that come into force from 6pm on December 4 will also see cinemas, bowling alleys and other indoor entertainment venues forced to shut their doors until they are reviewed on December 17. The announcement comes just three weeks after the end of Wales's 17-day firebreak lockdown and amid another rise in coronavirus cases particularly among under-25s in 17 of the country's 22 local authorities. On Monday, Mr Drakeford told a press conference in Cardiff that scientific and medical advisers believed unless further restrictions were put in place, the number of people in hospital in Wales with Covid-19 could rise to 2,200 people by January 12. Modelling suggested another 1,600 people could also lose their lives over the winter period, he said. It comes as a UK Cabinet minister suggested that drinkers in England could order a Scotch egg with their pint to get around the Tier 2 restrictions. George Eustice said the snack would constitute a "substantial meal" under the rules which will only allow alcohol to be served with food in Tier 2 areas from Wednesday. More than 57 per cent of England's population will be in the middle tier, with severe restrictions imposed on pubs. Read our live blog on all coronavirus latest news here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/science-and-disease/coronavirus-news-tiers-covid-lockdown-oxford-vaccine-christmas/ Subscribe to The Telegraph on YouTube ► https://bit.ly/3idrdLH Get the latest headlines: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/ Telegraph.co.uk and YouTube.com/TelegraphTV are websites of The Telegraph, the UK's best-selling quality daily newspaper providing news and analysis on UK and world events, business, sport, lifestyle and culture.