If there’s one thing we Asians can’t do without, it’s bubble tea.

In fact in Hunan, China, a bubble tea store reopened and was greeted with snaking queues even though there’s a highly contagious virus on the loose.

Unfortunately, some bubble tea lovers and bubble tea stores just don’t care as long as they’ve got their sugar fix:

4 Bubble Tea Shops Have Been Warned for Not Having Safe-Distancing Measures

Safe distancing? What’s that?

At least seven food and beverage establishments and one retail store have been given an advisory after they failed to comply with safe distancing measures, said Enterprise Singapore (ESG).

Out of these stores, 4 were bubble tea shops.

ESG said in a statement on Tuesday that these establishments failed to adhere to safe distancing measures adequately, even though they have been reminded more than once to rectify and abide by the measures.

These establishments include Kaffe & Toast at Clementi Mall, Nakhon Kitchen at VivoCity, Ya Kun Kaya Toast at Jem, and Courts at Tampines Mall.

The 4 bubble tea shops are Chicha San Chen outlets at Jem and Tampines 1 and Koi outlets at VivoCity and Jurong Point.

May Be Prosecuted By Infectious Diseases Act If They Fail To Comply Again

Evidently, the authorities mean business when it comes to the safety of the public and will take action should they fail to abide by the rules.

If these businesses fail to comply with the safe distancing measures by the next follow-up check, they will be prosecuted under the Infectious Diseases Act and any related regulations.

Do bear in mind that there’s another set of enhanced safe distancing measures that these businesses have to adhere to which have been implemented beginning today till 4 May.

Is the bubble tea really worth it?

Circuit Breaker Measures

I’m sure you would be familiar with the circuit breaker measures that was announced by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong last Friday.

But in case you’ve been hiding under a rock, these enhanced measures include the closure of non-essential services and a ban on dining-in at food and beverage establishments.

To date, authorities have checked that the safe distancing measures have been implemented for almost 10,000 food and beverage and retail establishment sin shopping malls thus far, according to ESG.

It’s clear that the authorities are taking this matter very seriously, and even bubble tea stores need to adhere to the rules.

It’s all in line with efforts to curb further spread of the virus so that everyone can return back to normalcy and go out without having to stay 1000m away from everyone else for fear of catching a virus.

Let’s hope that these businesses will adjust to the measures and play their role in fighting the coronavirus.

Have as many bubble tea as you want after the COVID-19 outbreak is over instead.

HPB: Hey, you know we’re still here, right?

I mean, stay healthy, please.