The party industry in Södertälje is on its knees and after Södertälje municipality's latest decision to completely ban parties, more entrepreneurs are critical of the fact that their industry has had to take a disproportionate amount of shit. - Why can Ikea have 1,000 guests while we can not have 150 in a room that holds 600? says Pierre, who runs St. Afrem's banquet hall.

The municipality of Södertälje has long been at odds over the fact that parties with hundreds of guests continue to be held - despite the serious spread of infection in the Stockholm region.

But on Tuesday, the municipality announced that, as the first municipality in the country, it chooses to try the new congestion law and parts of the Environmental Code, in order to be able to ban all large parties.

The fine of SEK 75,000 per opportunity for both property owners and business owners is distributed if it is broken.

When SVT calls around to party room owners in Södertälje, everyone understands that the parties are banned.

But they think that the municipality's focus has been too much on their industry.

- Is it only in the party rooms that corona is spread?

Why can Scania continue to let in hundreds?

Or watch Systembolaget on a Friday.

It's a joke that we should be allowed to take so much shit, says Pierre at St. Afrem's party room.

"Kept us to the rules"

Many entrepreneurs in the party industry testify that they have taken the necessary measures to prevent the spread of infection, including Mona-Lisa's party room, which this weekend had a major party that was described on social media.

- There were 200 guests spread out in a room for 1,000 people, a maximum of eight per table, distance between the tables and a minimum of dancing.

He who held the party had really done his best to follow the restrictions, says the man who rents the room, but who wants to remain anonymous.

Other party rooms testify that they canceled a wedding on their own initiative.

- In some cases, bride and groom have been upset and tried to persuade us that they should be few people.

But I really have respect for this insidious virus and it is not possible to control no matter how much you try to adapt.

The risk of people getting seriously ill is not worth the money, says Nebil Yalcin at Cleopatra's party room.

Calls for help

George on Panorama's party floor understands that the parties are banned, but he in turn lacks more help from the municipality.

- Who will pay my expenses now?

Rent, el?

I have worked up and put my soul into this business and I do not think Södertälje municipality has shown us any kind of will to ease the situation.

I have asked if we can postpone the rent but only received no answer, he says.

Prohibition of parties applies until March.

Will you make it?

- How should I cope?

No income means bankruptcy if nothing happens.

Pierre at S: t Afrem is on the same track:

- No, I may be forced to close and say goodbye to all staff.

Video: This is how the municipality wants to access the big parties: "Tasty"

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After the party ban - the party floor industry thinks about the decision

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