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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think restaurants & coffee shops aren’t safe!!

210 replies

shesfancy · 23/09/2020 15:27

Okay, I haven’t yet been to a restaurant or coffee shop since lockdown was lifted, but I don’t understand at all, how they can be safe.

I considered a drive thru coffee a few days ago but changed my mind. I mean how can it be safe drinking from a cup someone has touched moments before? Surely this is worse than being less than 2m to someone?

I’ve made the decision to not eat or drink out for the foreseeable, DH said I’m being over the top.
I don’t think it’s safe and I’m sticking with that.

AIBU?

OP posts:
hahoohayou · 23/09/2020 16:15

OP - If you don’t want to eat / drink inside, then don’t, but to avoid a drive thru coffee in fear of the cup being “contaminated”, IMO that’s just too much.

Inastatus · 23/09/2020 16:16

I think you are being OTT, especially when it comes to bleaching your shopping!

goingtotown · 23/09/2020 16:16

You are being OTT. Stay at home if you’re worried.

Hobnobsandbroomstick · 23/09/2020 16:16

I've eaten out a fair bit recently. I get tested every 2 weeks through a research study at my workplace; my results have all been negative. Do what you feel comfortable with.

MadeleineMaxwell · 23/09/2020 16:16

Well, no place where you come into contact with other humans is ever fully safe, for a given definition of 'safe'. As I understand it, 97% of covid is caught indoors, from other people, via aerosol and/or droplet transmission, usually in poorly ventilated areas. For me, that indicates anywhere indoors with only one door or window open and that is full of people, so I avoid those places where I can. You wouldn't catch me in a shopping centre or on a bus these days.

But we went to a restaurant a week or so ago, only about 6 tables in, well spaced out, no problem. I've been shopping locally a few times a week since lockdown lifted, also no problem so far. I've been to outdoor pub gardens, still all OK. And I live in Greater Manchester.

You are incredibly unlikely to catch it from your shopping delivery, post or takeaway cup. But the only way to 'prove' that to yourself is to ease up and try it, take some baby steps maybe. This self-imposed, rigorous isolation isn't healthy for you either in the long run.

Standrewsschool · 23/09/2020 16:17

I’ve been to coffee shops three times in the last three weeks Catching up with friends, and planning another meet-up tomorrow.

CeibaTree · 23/09/2020 16:19

But if you haven't been to a coffee shop or restaurant lately you can't have seen any measures that have been put in place, so your opinion seems to just be stemming from a kind of hysterical reaction to the situation. If you don't feel comfortable going (and I assume from your posts that you must be in the vulnerable category) then just don't go!

BritWifeinUSA · 23/09/2020 16:21

It’s your choice. Opening restaurants and coffee shops is not a government order that everyone has to go and use them. Those who don’t feel safe can stay at home. Those who are very vulnerable can stay at home. The rest of us like to be able to decide for ourselves whether we feel safe enough ordering a cup of coffee or not.

Hobnobsandbroomstick · 23/09/2020 16:21

I mean how can it be safe drinking from a cup someone has touched moments before?

Unless they lick they rim of cup (very unlikely, hopefully) then you will be fine. The virus isn't going to seep into your hand through a coffee cup that they've just touched.

TheSunIsStillShining · 23/09/2020 16:21

It always amazes me how in this country going to a coffee shop or restaurant or pub is what delivers quality of life.
I am on the same page with OP, but it's really easy for me: never was a big fan anyway. I have so many food intolerances that restaurants are more of a hassle than not, so not missing them.
Imo there is a huge problem nation wide/as a society with priorities. But the main problem is the gov.

sst1234 · 23/09/2020 16:26

OP, by locking yourself away, what are you safe from? An infection that has a 0.75% death rate of those infected and 0.0005% infection rate nation wide. Rather than getting taken in by headlines, think objectively.

PhilCornwall1 · 23/09/2020 16:26

Feels totally safe in the bar/restaurant we go to. Have been going every week since the day bars reopened and we are fine. Hygiene in the place is above and beyond what it needs to be.

I'm sure if I picked anything up I'd know about it, as my immune system is pretty much shot to pieces.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 23/09/2020 16:26

@TheSunIsStillShining shock horror, people like different things. Hmm

IcedPurple · 23/09/2020 16:26

It always amazes me how in this country going to a coffee shop or restaurant or pub is what delivers quality of life.

Strange thing to say. British people eat out much less than people in many countries 'on the continent'.

thenightsky · 23/09/2020 16:26

I've been to a pub or restaurant about four or five times since they reopened and I can honestly say that each one enhanced my life enormously; I hadn't realised quite how much I had missed going out and seeing a friend until I could do it again. I was walking on air for days after my first trip out I enjoyed it so much
This is exactly what I've experienced too. I felt as high as a kite after my first lunch out in August.

Littleposh · 23/09/2020 16:27

They are perfectly safe, but you don't want to hear that. I'm not sure of the purpose of this thread unless you are hoping that everyone refuses to go out and all hospitality closes and thousands upon thousands MORE jobs are list

Go, don't go, it's up to you but why announce it to the world??!!

goingtotown · 23/09/2020 16:29

TheSunisStillShining Just out of curiosity where do you meet friends for a catch up.

BogRollBOGOF · 23/09/2020 16:29

@hahoohayou

OP - If you don’t want to eat / drink inside, then don’t, but to avoid a drive thru coffee in fear of the cup being “contaminated”, IMO that’s just too much.
A good summary.

Coffee isn't "safe" and never has been. Back in January my friend asked me to hold her cup of black coffee a moment so she didn't tip it on her toddler's head. As I took it, the disposable cup squidged and spilled onto my hand. Fuck it hurt! Within 2 seconds I dropped it to the floor and bolted to the toilets to rinse under a running tap for the next 10 minutes. Even so it still throbbed when I got home and needed more soaking in cold water.

Mind you, a virus would not have stayed in good condition on that cup Grin

Take-away has been sufficiently low risk as to stay open all the way through. Some chains closed temporarily due to lack of demand and to work out working practices, but it was legally avaliable to consumers throughout.

While not nil, the chance of catching the virus from a surface such as a cup is incredibly low.

Sitting in your car to drink it, or indeed outside, incredibly low.

Going indoors, the risk increases. The busier it is and the poorer the ventilation the more the risk goes up.

I have mainly sat outside this summer, but occasionally sat indoors where it was very quiet.

Hearning about people staying indoors 99.9% of the time for the past 6 months and probably going on to a year is incredibly sad and a very unhealthy way to live. Going outside is the best way to get vitamin D which is reputed to be a good defence against the virus as well as it's other benefits. It's important for mental health to get outdoors, connect with seasonal change and to move. It's much much harder to be active if permanently in a restricted indoor space.

Hardbackwriter · 23/09/2020 16:30

It always amazes me how in this country going to a coffee shop or restaurant or pub is what delivers quality of life.
I am on the same page with OP, but it's really easy for me: never was a big fan anyway.

It always amazes me how sniffy people insist on being about anything they personally don't enjoy. I don't enjoy watching sport, doing any form of craft, going to classical music concerts or watching 99% of what's on TV but I don't think it means that there's somehow something wrong with any of those things or people who enjoy them.

ElinoristhenewEnid · 23/09/2020 16:30

Statistically for everyone there is a 1 in 4 chance of dying from cancer and at my age of 60 a 1 in 1000 chance of dying from coronavirus.

Although I do not want to catch it I am unwilling to shut myself away - just in case.

In my area there are 6 cases per 100,000 diagnosed which means every time I meet or handle something from someone else there is a 1 in 16,666 that he or she has covid infection and assuming he or she passed it onto me gives me a 1 in 16,666,000 of dying from covid.

keziahthecat · 23/09/2020 16:30

I guess you have to assess your own risks. Most coffee shops have sanitizer at this door and the staff wear gloves and masks. Going to a coffee shop has been one of the things I have enjoyed most since lockdown was lifted. I haven't really been in others houses though which I know most people have done. Everyone makes different choices and decides what they're comfortable doing.

AllPlayedOut · 23/09/2020 16:30

It always amazes me how in this country going to a coffee shop or restaurant or pub is what delivers quality of life.

I don't think that's just a U.K thing. Eating out is very popular in much of the world, and it isn't just about the coffee or food. It's about getting out, meeting friends, trying new things, relaxing etc. Each to their own but I love it and it's literally part of my therapy regime(Forcing myself to go to busy public places even when it's the last thing I want to do and making conversation.)

Giningit · 23/09/2020 16:30

@shesfancy

Okay, I haven’t yet been to a restaurant or coffee shop since lockdown was lifted, but I don’t understand at all, how they can be safe.

I considered a drive thru coffee a few days ago but changed my mind. I mean how can it be safe drinking from a cup someone has touched moments before? Surely this is worse than being less than 2m to someone?

I’ve made the decision to not eat or drink out for the foreseeable, DH said I’m being over the top.
I don’t think it’s safe and I’m sticking with that.

AIBU?

Hmm Stay in your house OP until the coast is clear. Or, assess your individual risk and live your life?
noodlezoodle · 23/09/2020 16:31

@borntohula

I can't believe that generally healthy people haven't just accepted that they will catch the virus at some point in their lives, just as they do other contagious illnesses. I don't even care if I get flamed for that.
I can't believe that people are unaware that even generally healthy people who catch CV-19 are often very, very unwell and many are being left with life-altering after effects.
IcedPurple · 23/09/2020 16:32

Okay, I haven’t yet been to a restaurant or coffee shop since lockdown was lifted, but I don’t understand at all, how they can be safe.

Define 'safe'. As others have said, nothing is 100% 'safe'. There are always risks in life.

If you think having a coffee in the same room as your fellow humans isn't 'safe' then do as you wish. You're going to do so regardless of what anyone here says so I'm also wondering what the actual point of this post is?