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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Are driveway drinks allowed

503 replies

NotPawPatrolAgain · 06/04/2020 08:18

With neighbours if sticking to the 2 metre rule?

OP posts:
MigginsMrs · 06/04/2020 08:38

No

goldenorbspider · 06/04/2020 08:38

Fed the f up with all the competitive self isolating.

Namechangedforthisreply7 · 06/04/2020 08:39

You’re right that it’s not banned but consider this: if everyone did this with their neighbours, do you think the likelihood of transmission goes up or down?

I have relatives at the frontline. I will do everything sensible to stop them being overloaded or unreasonably subject to viral overload without the proper ppe (and they don’t have proper ppe yet). I am not the moral police by any stretch but what you plan Op will directly contribute to a total lockdown. As yourself if an arranged gathering with your neighbours I’d worth risking our only remaining liberty. The rules require a purposive construction - would Matt Hancock go on TV and say arranged drinks at 2m is ok? No. The drinks at 2m in that beer garden in the midlands wasn’t ok either. Passing your neighbours and having a chat at distance is fine. Arranging an evening together, even at distance, really isn’t.

ihatelockdown · 06/04/2020 08:40

What's the difference from doing that and standing in your garden clapping the NHS?
We're not allowed to do non essential travel, standing in your front garden isn't traveling anywhere!

Lockheart · 06/04/2020 08:40

As long as you're maintaining your distance and not leaving your property I can't see a reason why not.

AliasGrape · 06/04/2020 08:40

Oh FFS come on now!

Have you seen the street in Cheshire all over the news that go out and dance together - in the street not just on respective driveways - every day. It’s being lauded as a great thing and I’ve seen it everywhere.

Everyone out clapping for carers in their driveways isn’t ‘essential’ either but presumably most people see that as a positive.

Sitting on your drive/front garden chatting to someone else sitting in theirs, provided you’re sufficiently far apart and don’t cross into each other’s property, is perfectly fine.

We go out to our front doorstep every day and chat to our elderly neighbour whose husband was taken into hospice care and she can’t see. There’s no beer involved admittedly but occasionally I’ve been holding a mug of tea. It’s not ‘essential’ to do this but I won’t be stopping it either.

EveryDayIsADuvetDay · 06/04/2020 08:41

it would be annoying for the other residents of the street

Good way to get revenge for all that bloody clapping then.
As long as you keep your 2m distance, not against current regulations

If you see net curtain twitchers, just start clapping earnestly and make them think they've missed the latest clap edict.

clareOclareO · 06/04/2020 08:41

Questions like this leave me wondering exactly when it was that Britain lost its common sense.

We're in this situation to SAVE LIVES. We need to minimise social contact. If whatever scheme you dreamt up to get around the restrictions means unnecessary contact, DO NOT DO IT.

If you want to speak to the neighbours, phone them, Skype them, but don't have face-to-face contact.

Needtheadvice · 06/04/2020 08:42

My DAunt turned 50 the a couple days ago, her party cancelled due to Covid-19. She's a doctor. Her amended birthday party was in the back garden with the neighbours out in there gardens 3 meters apart celebrating her birthday. As long as you are on your own property and keep a safe distance you can interact with your neighbours. People are allowed to be outside on their own property!

Needtheadvice · 06/04/2020 08:42

their* garden

goldenorbspider · 06/04/2020 08:43

Good way to get revenge for all that bloody clapping then.

😂😂😂

JoeExotic · 06/04/2020 08:43

No different from being in your garden when they are in theirs too.

IamNotDarling · 06/04/2020 08:43

I posted this on another thread.

The legislation is here www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/350/contents/made and movement regulations are contained with paragraph 6.

Restrictions on movement

6.—(1) During the emergency period, no person may leave the place where they are living without reasonable excuse.
(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1), a reasonable excuse includes the need—
(a)to obtain basic necessities, including food and medical supplies for those in the same household (including any pets or animals in the household) or for vulnerable persons and supplies for the essential upkeep, maintenance and functioning of the household, or the household of a vulnerable person, or to obtain money, including from any business listed in Part 3 of Schedule 2;

(b)to take exercise either alone or with other members of their household;

(c)to seek medical assistance, including to access any of the services referred to in paragraph 37 or 38 of Schedule 2;

(d)to provide care or assistance, including relevant personal care within the meaning of paragraph 7(3B) of Schedule 4 to the Safeguarding of Vulnerable Groups Act 2006(1), to a vulnerable person, or to provide emergency assistance;

(e)to donate blood;

(f)to travel for the purposes of work or to provide voluntary or charitable services, where it is not reasonably possible for that person to work, or to provide those services, from the place where they are living;

(g)to attend a funeral of—

(i)a member of the person’s household,

(ii)a close family member, or

(iii)if no-one within sub-paragraphs (i) or (ii) are attending, a friend;

(h)to fulfil a legal obligation, including attending court or satisfying bail conditions, or to participate in legal proceedings;

(i)to access critical public services, including—

(i)childcare or educational facilities (where these are still available to a child in relation to whom that person is the parent, or has parental responsibility for, or care of the child);

(ii)social services;

(iii)services provided by the Department of Work and Pensions;

(iv)services provided to victims (such as victims of crime);

(j)in relation to children who do not live in the same household as their parents, or one of their parents, to continue existing arrangements for access to, and contact between, parents and children, and for the purposes of this paragraph, “parent” includes a person who is not a parent of the child, but who has parental responsibility for, or who has care of, the child;

(k)in the case of a minister of religion or worship leader, to go to their place of worship;

(l)to move house where reasonably necessary;

(m)to avoid injury or illness or to escape a risk of harm.

(3) For the purposes of paragraph (1), the place where a person is living includes the premises where they live together with any garden, yard, passage, stair, garage, outhouse or other appurtenance of such premises.
(4) Paragraph (1) does not apply to any person who is homeless.

Stefoscope · 06/04/2020 08:43

Ah yes the spirit of the lockdown where you must not ever leave your house. My 75 year old mum stands with a cuppa (2m away) from her 75 year old neigbour for a little while each day to have a chat. They're both widows and live alone, so like to check in on one another, I guess some people on here would want them arrested for doing that. Similarly it's not 'essential' for me to have a quick chat (at a 2m distance) with my elderly neighbour when we're both out in our gardens hanging washing. Maybe I should just start ignoring her.

Can people really not see the difference between neighbours interacting on their own properties at a 2m distance and people gathering in a park to sunbathe and barbeque?

Poetryinaction · 06/04/2020 08:44

My neighbours did this on Saturday. They were saying 'social distancing' is misleading. We don't need to be socially distanced, but physically distanced.
Don't leave your driveway, don't get close to others. No rules broken, no danger.
Socially close, physically distanced.

prisonofficersareimportanttoo · 06/04/2020 08:44

FFS! WE ARE ALLOWED IN OUR GARDENS PEOPLE!

Your front garden/driveway is no different to your back garden, you will still be allowed in it.

The government are not helping here by sometimes saying 'stay at home' and sometimes saying 'stay indoors' but the guidelines clearly state stay AT home. So as long as you are within the boundaries of your property, you are fine.

BUT: It is imperative that you are sensible if you are arranging a 'front garden' social. Be hyper aware of the 2 metre rule, and stick to it. It's a matter for your conscience but I wouldn't be doing it on a daily basis or for more than an hour or so, because I think that really would be stretching the implied definition of the lockdown.

Equimum · 06/04/2020 08:44

I want to say no, but my mum only has a four foot fence between her and her neighbour’s house. If they are both in their gardens, they regularly chat. They are staying two meters away at the moment, but in a way, for them, it is pretty unavoidable to be that close, and standing on driveways in not much different. At the moment, the question should probably be about whether it is safe for us to be in garden when our neighbours are also out.

NotACleverName · 06/04/2020 08:45

@goldenorbspider I know right? Fucking hell its like a competition to see who can be the most joyless.

If driveway drinks aren’t allowed, then the entirety of those attention seeking driveway dancing wankers in Frodsham need locking up.

longearedbat · 06/04/2020 08:45

I really can't believe the posters who actually think you aren't allowed outside even. Bonkers. I have spent more time outside than I normally do. I/we have also had long chats with various people at a distance. There is nothing wrong with this. Why do the mumsnet stasi think there is? And why do they persist in making up rules to suit their own peculiar and extremely judgemental mindset?

bellinisurge · 06/04/2020 08:45

Your own driveway. Your own drinks. Your neighbour doing the same at an at least 2m distance, no problem.

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 06/04/2020 08:46

We're in this situation to SAVE LIVES some people seem to think this line trumps any rational common sense.
It’s like when you question religion and someone shuts it down saying “god has a plan, it’s faith” Hmm

ErrolTheDragon · 06/04/2020 08:46

Given there is no actual 'rule' on this, the answer (as with many of these questions) is probably 'it depends'.

It depends on the configuration of your driveways/front gardens. It depends whether everyone including children will adhere to proper distancing. And that the adults won't start being daft once alcohol has been consumed. It depends on whether it will be a nuisance for key workers on shifts trying to sleep. Etc etc.

The balance of probabilities is likely to be that it's probably better avoided, I'd have thought.

Muchtoomuchtodo · 06/04/2020 08:46

EdinaMonsoon. It’s people like you spouting inaccurate information who are causing confusion for many.

You say, ‘The rules are quite clear: if it’s not essential don’t do it.’

Where in the world are you if those are the rules? The rules in the U.K. are against all non essential travel

Going out if your house and staying on your property is allowed. DS1 spends hours on our drive playing basketball or on his scooter. If a neighbour passes while out for their daily exercise they talk to each other, while abiding by the social distancing guidance.

Having a cup of tea, or glass of wine while having a chat and maintaining those distances most certainly isn’t against the guidelines and would be good for the metal health of all involved. Going into your neighbour’s house to have the drink most certainly would be against the current guidance. See the difference?

OP assuming you’re in the U.K., I can’t see how this breaks any rules. Enjoy!

dollybird · 06/04/2020 08:46

Our neighbours did a 'dancing on your driveway' last night. A friend came round in her car to join them with her DD. The adults may have stayed 2m apart but the girls didn't.

prisonofficersareimportanttoo · 06/04/2020 08:46

Not least because once people start drinking, some will lose their inhibitions and completely forget that they should be maintaining distances from people not within their household.