In January, a traditionally quiet month, many establishments take the opportunity to make renovations and adjustments, which has led to staff reductions and the threat of layoffs of 10 to 12 percent, according to Rogelio Garfias, president of the association of restaurants, bars, and nightclubs in Querétaro.
Since the imposed time change, the sector has experienced up to a 30 percent decrease in business footfall. Nevertheless, the dialogue with authorities has been limited to the moment when the new operating rules were established.
Following the tragedy at the bar 'Los Cantaritos' last November, authorities decided to reduce the closing time of nightclubs, bars, and restaurants by one hour. Three months later, the industry continues to see a decline in foot traffic, which has forced reductions in personnel and measures to adapt to the new regulations.
Regarding safety in establishments, Garfias emphasized that although there are legal requirements that are not being met, such as training staff in coordination with state police and direct contact with authorities, there has been a proposal to install surveillance cameras with facial recognition, which poses legal challenges regarding personal data protection.
Additionally, the president of the association pointed out that due to the new closing time of 2 AM, the presence of 'afters' has become popular in the city, especially in Juriquilla, where basic safety measures required to ensure the well-being of customers are not enforced.
