Bar owners have voiced strong concerns over an executive decision to impose a time curfew on entertainment venues.
The executive has confirmed that drink venues will be required to call last orders at 10.30pm and have the premises cleared by 11pm from midnight tonight.
The move is the latest in a series to try and prevent the spread of coronavirus.
The number of cases of Covid-19 has been rising in recent weeks, with 1,513 positive tests reported in the last seven days.
The curfew will apply to pubs, bars, restaurants and cafes as well as hotel and guesthouse bars.
Deputy First minister Arlene Foster said there will be no exceptions to the rule.
"There can be no exceptions to this, so weddings and other important social events will also be required to comply."
Some people involved in the drinks trade have reacted angrily to the proposals.
Alan Simms, a director of the Limelight in Belfast, is opposed to restrictions and claims there is no evidence to back up moves to introduce a curfew.
“To date we have seen no medical, scientific or behavioural evidence in favour of such curfews, and the implementation of these will push patrons out of safe premises, with socially distanced measures, into the streets en masse, and drive substantially higher footfall to unregulated environments - as has been observed across England at the weekend,” he said.
“Should there be any evidence supporting these curfews, we would welcome the opportunity to have view of this, and allow it to inform our plans to continue provide a safe environment within which to welcome our customers."
Hospitality Ulster chief executive Colin Neill expressed concern at the announcement.
"We respect that health has to come first, but this curfew and other restrictions must be kept under continuous review," he said.
"The sector is going to lose hours, it's losing staff and it has lost live music and needs to be given a fighting chance."
Richie Keenan, manager of the Hatfield House on the Ormeau Road in south Belfast, said the new regulations will make trading conditions tougher given the trend for people to drink at home before heading out.
“If people are not heading out until 10 and we are to be clear by 11pm, it's not giving us much wriggle room,” he said.
He said jobs could be on the line.
“All of us have been fighting to save jobs and staff jobs,” he said.
The bar manager suggested that costs have risen due to the need for extra cleaning since the start of the pandemic.
“Nobody was making money before this and its starting to get very, very tight,” he said.
Mr Keenan suggested that if the drinks industry plays its part in protecting public health, it should also receive attention.
“If we need to do 11am closures to help save lives (then) thye are going to have to help us and save jobs.
Joe Killen, who manages Cassidy's Bar on the Antrim Road in north Belfast, said staff there had already implimented restricted hours.
Mr Killen revealed that his bar has already been operating an early closing regime by closing the bar at 10pm and having it cleared by 11pm.
“It's something we have to do, we have to be responsible,” he said.
Meanwhile, well known Belfast based chef Michael Deane has warned that any new restrictions on the restaurant trade could lead to “serious trouble”
"We lost tables of six, 10 and 14 when restrictions came out last week that no more than six people from two households could dine together and now our staff are having to act like high profile security guards," he told the Belfast Telegraph.
