The bar industry mutter business is 20pc worse than during pandemic

The bar industry started to deteriorate this March and worsened from June, with a 20 percent drop compared to the pandemic period, when industry veterans grumbled about the government suppressing the "night economy" and drinking culture.

Ben Leung Lap-yan, the charter president of the Licensed Bar and Club Association of Hong Kong, said on a radio program that bars and other entertainment venues were blamed for the epidemic, while the authorities also labeled drinking as a potential cause of cancer.

"People feel that going out for a drink at night is unhealthy," he said.

Leung said the bar area was very busy on the weekends before the epidemic, but now "the atmosphere is nowhere to be seen."

He claimed that the decline in bar business was also attributed to "revenge style traveling" by Hongkongers after the borders had reopened, and added that bar-goers also opted to spend their weekends in the mainland.

When asked whether Hong Kong visitors could help, Leung said that tourists do not account for much of the business. The industry has now moved from asking for help to helping themselves, such as opening earlier and turning into restaurant pubs. 

However, it is still necessary for the government to assist in promoting the nightlife culture, such as mentioning the culinary experience in the evening when attracting visitors.