Public trust is being eroded, because people don't understand the logic of the decision as it's currently being communicated. How can four people from four different households having coffee together be safer than two people from the same household having a pint? Why is alcoholic mulled wine served in the open air in a Christmas market a danger? This lack of logic risks undermining adherence overall, and there's a danger then that more people will be going into each other's homes as a result.

Our alternative proposal would be to allow cafes, restaurants and bars to stay open until 8 p.m. with alcohol served until seven. This could follow stricter guidelines that included limiting the number of alcoholic drinks, with pre-booked table service only. The sale of alcohol could also be banned in off-licences and supermarkets after the 7 p.m. cut-off to discourage people from gathering in homes. Would you not agree, First Minister, that this would be a simpler, clearer, and more consistent compromise that gets the balance right between the COVID and non-COVID harms as the latter become ever more evident the longer the pandemic persists?