A Glasgow nightclub owner says licensed venues are in for a difficult few weeks with COP26 threatening to turn the city centre into a “no-go zone” and the enforcement of the vaccine passport scheme.

From today, venues including pubs, clubs and football stadia will be required to fully comply with the measure after the end of a two-week grace period to give businesses time to prepare.

The Scottish Government say the “limited scheme” will help keep venues open and prevent any further restrictions over the challenging winter period, as well as incentivising Covid vaccinations for those still to take up the offer.

Two thirds of 18 to 29-year-olds have had both doses while 73.9 per cent of 16 and 17-year-olds and 46.5 per cent of 12 to 15-year-olds have had their first jags.

People will be required to provide proof they are double jagged for entry to late night venues open after midnight with alcohol, music and dancing, unseated indoor live events with more than 500 people in the audience and unseated outdoor live events, with more than 4,000 people in the audience.

READ MORE: Masks and vaccine passport scheme hailed for Scotland's higher Covid vaccination rate 

Certification will also be required for any event which has more than 10,000 people in attendance.

Opponents of the plan, including the Scottish Hospitality Group, say the policy should have been restricted to venues that remain open after 2am, which are already likely to have trained door staff.

Donald MacLeod, owner of the Cathouse and the Garage, said his venues were prepared for the implementation of the scheme but not prepared for a slump in customers.

He said: “We can’t quantify how many people are not going to bother coming out.

“This week, in the lead up to COP26, some people are already avoiding Glasgow.

“We will be reluctantly abiding by the law and our doors are open but it’s with no help from the Scottish Government

“I always said it would have been better if they asked the clubs to help using positive messaging instead of a stick to crack a nut. Kids are not daft, they know having an app doesn’t stop you having the virus or spreading it.”

READ MORE: Covid booster delays down to logistics and geographical challenge says health board 

Council officers will be responsible for enforcement of the certification scheme, which will apply to the person responsible for each premises.

Exemptions include under 18s, participants in vaccine trials, people who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons and those working or performing in the venues.

Stephen Montgomery, of the Scottish Hospitality Group, believes the policy will be “unworkable” for many venues because of the requirement for entrance checks.

He said: “Until we sort out the issue of recruitment, it wouldn’t matter if it was last Friday, this Friday or even Good Friday, we still wouldn’t be ready for it.”

Scottish Conservative Shadow Finance and Economy Secretary Liz Smith said the scheme had the potential to “seriously undermine” Scotland’s economic recovery in the run-up to the festive season.

READ MORE: More than 2600 new Covid cases recorded in Scotland 

She said: “We have repeatedly called for delays and for significant practical changes to be made, so that businesses and sporting facilities have sufficient time to prepare for these burdensome checks. They will have no choice but to fully comply with this unworkable scheme and will be forced ever closer to a cliff edge.”

Last week, a leading public health expert suggested the UK government should must consider other options to help drive down rising Covid cases in England, if it is not pursuing a vaccine passport scheme.

Professor Tim Spector, who heads up the ZOE  Covid tracking app, said he had previously been opposed to the measure but suggested Scotland’s higher vaccination rate could be linked to the policy.

Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said: “This is a very limited scheme and we hope this will allow businesses to remain open and prevent any further restrictions as we head into autumn and winter. 

“This virus has not gone away and vaccine certification will have a role to play in keeping transmission under control as part of a wider package. It adds a further layer of protection in certain higher risk settings.”