Irish pubs say two metre social distancing spells ruin

[snoop1130]

Irish pubs say two metre social distancing spells ruin

By Padraic Halpin

 

FILE PHOTO: A man wearing a protective face mask passes The Norseman pub, as bars across Ireland close voluntarily to curb the spread of coronavirus, in Dublin, Ireland, March 15, 2020. REUTERS/Lorraine O'Sullivan

 

DUBLIN (Reuters) - Ireland's usually tightly-packed pubs say they face ruin unless the government eases one of the strictest lockdowns in Europe, under which they can only reopen in August and must keep drinkers two metres apart - reducing capacity for some from hundreds to dozens.

 

For Ronan Lynch, owner of The Swan, a small, Victorian pub typical of many in central Dublin where forcing your way to the bar for a pint is usually a selling point, a relaxing of the guidelines will be the difference between reopening or not.

 

"We're at the periphery of Europe with a peripheral view of the two-metre rule. No business can operate at 25% capacity. It just doesn't stack up," said Lynch, who began a renovation just as Ireland began to shut down its economy in mid-March.

 

Bars and restaurants in Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal and Germany have reopened with looser 1 to 1.5 metre guidelines. Operators in the Czech Republic, Switzerland and Iceland that have had to stick to 2 metres have had the benefit of being open since May to try to salvage some of the busy summer season.

 

Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, a medical doctor, has suggested a possible halving of the social distancing measure and a speeding up of one of Europe's most conservative reopening plans if coronavirus cases remain under control, but his top health advisers are more cautious.

 

Lynch, who is the chairman of Dublin's Licensed Vintners Association (LVA), said permitting one metre between patrons would boost his capacity to 40 to 50%, about 100 drinkers. Research carried out for the LVA found capacity could drop as low as 12.5% for some without any change.

 

An easing will still leave pubs and restaurants needing further state support, Lynch said, but will give them a chance of surviving into 2021 when the government hopes a treatment or vaccine can bring an end to social distancing.

 

Irish pubs, renowned for their bustling atmosphere, have presented the government with a plan to limit drinking to table service, with no live music and staggered access to toilets in a bid to open earlier alongside restaurants on June 29.

 

They are waiting to hear back.

 

The guidance will be crucial for pubs, some of whom were criticised for not enforcing social distancing in the early days of the crisis, forcing their closure on the eve of the lucrative St. Patrick's Day holiday.

 

Too strict and the one in ten workers dependent on Ireland's pub-focused tourism industry will remain among the 26% currently claiming unemployment benefits. Too lenient and it could spark a second wave of infections, undoing Ireland's careful approach.

 

With Ireland due to enter the second of five stages next week, Varadkar has said he may revise the later phases as soon as Friday, amid growing political pressure.

 

Pubs say they need a decision and soon so they don't waste money on refurbishing to the wrong specifications, can figure out how many staff they can need or whether it's worth reopening at all.

 

"The government needs to take a leap of faith here, push the button on it and get things open sooner rather than later," said Lynch.

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-06-04

 

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[tribalfusion001]

Whether it's 1 meter, 1.5 metre or 2 metres it spells ruins for bars, clubs and pubs. The idea is socializing with alcoholic drinks and the no fun medical police can't have that.

 

We need protests and riots about social distancing to stop this pointless agenda.

[redwood1]

1 minute ago, tribalfusion001 said:

Whether it's 1 meter, 1.5 metre or 2 metres it spells ruins for bars, clubs and pubs. The idea is socializing with alcoholic drinks and the no fun medical police can't have that.

 

We need protests and riots about social distancing to stop this pointless agenda.

Well protests are pointless while wearing a mask.... 

[sungod]

Maybe its too early, but some of these rules should be a simple yes or no, on or off. For some businesses there is nothing between.

[tribalfusion001]

11 minutes ago, redwood1 said:

Well protests are pointless while wearing a mask.... 

I agree, but goggles are needed for the tear gas, probably a gas mask would be more beneficial.

[Heppinger]

How will disagreements be resolved at the Swinging Arms Hotel?

[Donekys]

We should stop using the term "social distancing"...remove it from the narrative or it will be the "new normal"...another expression that must be removed from the common narrative. Seriously, tvf should ban these expressions! Where did we learn them, why have we accepted them? Help us all by stopping their use

[Heppinger]

38 minutes ago, Donekys said:

We should stop using the term "social distancing"...remove it from the narrative or it will be the "new normal"...another expression that must be removed from the common narrative. Seriously, tvf should ban these expressions! Where did we learn them, why have we accepted them? Help us all by stopping their use

The people didn't coin the term "social distancing" in the first place, it was in place ready to go and rolled out upon all western nations simultaneously.  The Governments have made it the new Normal and the MSM will not stop parroting it now.

[tribalfusion001]

Social distancing is not normal as a species we are social. Brainwashing by the MSM and the governments thinking this is the New Normal, if that's what you want, then fine, count me out though!

 

I won't be going to any bars or pubs sitting with a plastic divide down the table or being told to stand on a certain spot.

[Heppinger]

2 minutes ago, tribalfusion001 said:

Social distancing is not normal as a species we are social. Brainwashing by the MSM and the governments thinking this is the New Normal, if that's what you want, then fine, count me out though!

 

I won't be going to any bars or pubs sitting with a plastic divide down the table or being told to stand on a certain spot.

Totally agree. my post didn't explain my position very well.  When i see masks and screens i get a feeling that i cant really describe, a feeling of distaste i guess.  I'm not very social so it hasn't really effected me to much.   They are programming people to feel a sense of uncertainty and danger when out in public, it breaks down social cohesion and trust.  face masks should be for hospitals and construction sites. 

 

[tribalfusion001]

4 minutes ago, Heppinger said:

Totally agree. my post didn't explain my position very well.  When i see masks and screens i get a feeling that i cant really describe, a feeling of distaste i guess.  I'm not very social so it hasn't really effected me to much.   They are programming people to feel a sense of uncertainty and danger when out in public, it breaks down social cohesion and trust.  face masks should be for hospitals and construction sites. 

 

It's fear and panic to fit the narrative. I am quite social and like sitting in bars, I'm not an alcoholic, just enjoy being social sometimes. This whole situation is really p*ssing me off now, so I've taken up cycling again and teaching myself some tricks on the bike.

 

UK just announced masks on all public transport from 15th June.

[zeamonkey]

All the Thai Monkey Ministry is getting from me is 5 min daily mask wearing in 7/11 along with a fake name and fake number. (when they insist).

[Heppinger]

2 minutes ago, tribalfusion001 said:

UK just announced masks on all public transport from 15th June.

I didn't think they would go that far.  I'm guessing a referendum won't be held so the people can decide.

[sirineou]

How can you throw a sucker punch from six feet away ?

[Heppinger]

3 minutes ago, sirineou said:

How can you throw a sucker punch from six feet away ?

I know, let's just hope they don't swap the glass out for plastic.

[tribalfusion001]

19 minutes ago, Heppinger said:

I know, let's just hope they don't swap the glass out for plastic.

Probably for safety reasons, plastic only as the staff will have to touch the possible infected glasses again. Card payments only, queueing system for the toilets as need to be disinfected after each use.

[MaxYakov]

3 hours ago, Donekys said:

We should stop using the term "social distancing"...remove it from the narrative or it will be the "new normal"...another expression that must be removed from the common narrative. Seriously, tvf should ban these expressions! Where did we learn them, why have we accepted them? Help us all by stopping their use

Social distancing is a misnomer anyway - It should be termed anti-social distancing.

[Oldie]

Let some customers get Corona and die and it might perhaps help to keep distance. People start to forget the reason for all this. 

[Puchaiyank]

People are going to gather in homes for socializing...screw the micromanage of people's lives...

[smedly]

7 hours ago, tribalfusion001 said:

Whether it's 1 meter, 1.5 metre or 2 metres it spells ruins for bars, clubs and pubs. The idea is socializing with alcoholic drinks and the no fun medical police can't have that.

 

We need protests and riots about social distancing to stop this pointless agenda.

A radical rethink needs to take place everywhere

 

Since it is well established that there is a vulnerable group of people about less than 5% of population that are at risk by this virus then isolate them (their choice) and let the rest of the population some 95% get back to normal and stop this madness., adjust the rules accordingly 

[smedly]

5 hours ago, Heppinger said:

I didn't think they would go that far.  I'm guessing a referendum won't be held so the people can decide.

I think the choice is either face mask or 2m on public transport - I can see the thinking around that and it makes sense - no need for both

[mr mr]

it should be clear as mud now that these measures have nothing to do with the silly wuwu. the boogeyman called he is at the unemployment office looking for work.

 

stop all of this garbage. it's making you as authoritative figures look like absolute clowns now.  

 

[baansgr]

6 hours ago, Heppinger said:

I didn't think they would go that far.  I'm guessing a referendum won't be held so the people can decide.

UK's track record on having a referendum wouldn't solve the issue anyway....

[fulhamster]

Irish pubs, renowned for their bustling atmosphere, have presented the government with a plan to limit drinking to table service, with no live music and staggered access to toilets

 

So normal access to the toilets !! ????????

[Tropposurfer]

How can anyone manage anything like 1 metre let alone 2 metres safe distancing in any pub in the whole of the British Isles? Ridiculous rubbish.

[Burma Bill]

17 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

only reopen in August and must keep drinkers two metres apart

Same for Thailand - 555555!!

[Scott Tracy]

I'm not sure the Irish would appreciate the term 'British Isles '. Just saying....

[tribalfusion001]

14 minutes ago, Scott Tracy said:

I'm not sure the Irish would appreciate the term 'British Isles '. Just saying....

It is the correct term. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Isles

[puipuitom]

18 hours ago, tribalfusion001 said:

Whether it's 1 meter, 1.5 metre or 2 metres it spells ruins for bars, clubs and pubs. The idea is socializing with alcoholic drinks and the no fun medical police can't have that.

 

We need protests and riots about social distancing to stop this pointless agenda.

Why to care for somebody else's grandparents... Let these costly elders be eleminated as quick as possibble. Saves care costs, pension payments, makes homes available for the younger, no senile eldrs to visity, and get heritages closer-bye.. a win-win-win-win situation...

[puipuitom]

32 minutes ago, Scott Tracy said:

I'm not sure the Irish would appreciate the term 'British Isles '. Just saying....

Typical attitude of especially the English... still thinking it is all theirs'