Tasmanian hospitality businesses were shocked by the extension of social distancing restrictions, according to their representative body.
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On Tuesday Premier Peter Gutwein announced Tasmania's border control and social distancing requirements would be in place until at least December 1.
Tasmanian Hospitality Association chief executive Steve Old said the extension came as a surprise.
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He said they respected how the government had handled the COVID-19 situation, but hoped restrictions would start to ease.
"What we hope now off the back of this announcement by the Premier is that he looks at restrictions for hospitality venues and eases them," Mr Old said.
"[For example] we can allow people to do activities like eight ball and darts in venues, that we can start to look at how Tasmanians out and about in venues can start to stand up and drink."
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Mr Old said it was confusing that patrons could drink alcohol while bowling in some venues, but couldn't play pool or darts in others.
The Commercial Hotel owner Garry Laskey said while they wanted to be back open at full capacity, they had taken restrictions in their stride.
"We've managed [restrictions], but the disadvantage of it all was that we had to employ extra security, extra staff to actually monitor the social distancing," he said.
"A large extra cost ... our weekend trade has been very good, but obviously the cost factor is quite high ... but we are managing it and we are doing as we are told."
He said he would love to open the bar up and go back to how things were, but that wasn't realistic.
"We don't want to be put in a situation like Victoria has been and in a month's time go back into lockdown. So we'd rather stay with the restrictions as they are and monitor it and keep it as it is," Mr Laskey said.
Director of Public Health Mark Veitch said internal restrictions weren't being eased to minimise the risk of an outbreak.
He said places where people come into close contact with others could drive outbreaks.
Dr Veitch pointed to Auckland and the Cross Roads hotel in NSW as examples of where this had occurred.
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Jackson Worthington
General news reporter with a special interest in social justice, the economy and family violence. Jackson.Worthington@austcommunitymedia.com.au
General news reporter with a special interest in social justice, the economy and family violence. Jackson.Worthington@austcommunitymedia.com.au
