AIBU to be shocked that this isn't common knowledge?

[DameFanny]

If you go to the pub, or a restaurant, you're not supposed to mix households, or be outside your bubble.

I thought this was all pretty clear - you distance from anyone not in your bubble. 2 metres, or 1 metre with screens, masks or something similar.

And I haven't bothered with the pub or whatever because what's the fun in waving at people from behind a screen. But that's not what people are doing is it? They're sharing tables with friends and getting Covid. Even though it's illegal, and the pub/restaurant can be closed down for it.

I thought the people going out were mostly just eating in a different set of walls with their household - or the posturing mask debaters who tell us it's just a sniffle - but I was honestly shocked on another thread that this isn't common knowledge. How many people are breaking the law?

www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/restaurants-offering-takeaway-or-delivery

Tier one you can meet in groups of six inside. Completely separate to support bubbles.

@DameFanny

And the bubbles aren't groups of 6 - the bubble is your household plus any people you form a support bubble with - for us it's my widowed DM.

But you absolutely can't change your bubble from day to day

And yes, meet in groups of 6 - but 2m apart, or 1m with other measures in place. So in a big back garden it's doable, in a small front room not so much, on a standard restaurant table very unlikely

I live in a low tier area and I CAN meet 5 other people from a different household in my living room without distancing.

Tbh I gave up following all the changes a while back so to me it is a slogan after slogan and I find it confusing.

@Treesofwood

Maybe you could buy yourself a plastic pod thing and sit in that. Why would you want to go out for a meal in a mask or with a screen between you all?

My point - why would you? Unless it's just to get a change of scene with your household/bubble

What isn't more common knowledge? That people are breaking the law? I don't really understand your op.

Yep. Until now I've avoided getting into the 'oh it's all such a mess' debate. But it is confusing, unliveable (we are all still working after all) and isn't making much sense. Essentially it's 'don't go to the pub with anyone outside your household unless you're sitting outside' and then of course there's not being allowed to visit and support bubbles where you kind of are. It's not going to be an overnight thing that's for sure. I see it dragging on into next year.

Breaking the law? Where is the law that says this OP?

@Plussizejumpsuit

What isn't more common knowledge? That people are breaking the law? I don't really understand your op.

That people don't seem to realise they're breaking the law

Essentially it's 'don't go to the pub with anyone outside your household unless you're sitting outside'
Nope, not the case in tier one.

But also people who are not in the same household but are in an established relationship don’t have to socially distance... There’s no wonder people are confused...

@FrostyGirl66 no, you can meet with distancing

I get what you mean... but I’ve been going out for lunch and dinner with friends and we sit around a table and you’re right we aren’t all a m apart; but as long as we are spending money the government is ok with it!

You are right OP You can meet up to 6 but have to distance. Which unless you are at either end of a banqueting table is not possible. Everyone seems to be ignoring this part though.

It is very clear in our local authority rules, it is stated clearly. But we are in local lockdown and in Wales.
I have read quite a bit about this of meeting in pubs/ cafes with friends, I actually thought that is was allowed elsewhere!
We have resourced to check the rules the day before we want to do anything that is not work/ home/ supermarket. Just in case....

It is clearly confusing to some people, because the government is being obtuse at every opportunity. It is very clear that you should be social distancing with people outside your bubble at all times and this is been the case since the pandemic started. The fact that you are allowed to meeting in groups of six under certain conditions in certain tiers does not, and has never changed that.

Crowding round a table in a pub or restaurant with your mates is not allowed, yet it has been being routinely done for months. As soon as you have poorer weather (less outside eating and drinking), throw students coming from all over the country into that model (along with schools started and mixing children with no social distancing) we see an explosion of cases.

Of course hospitality venues have no real way of knowing or police who is in a bubble or not so there is little they can do beyond ensuring social distancing between groups of six.

Not sure its law just guidance as in its against the law for me to meet 8 people but ok for me to meet 5 ( tier 1 ) but its guidance to stay 2 m away

Pubs seem to have windows and doors open for ventilation as well although that will be less and less s weather gets cold

@OverTheRainbow88

I get what you mean... but I’ve been going out for lunch and dinner with friends and we sit around a table and you’re right we aren’t all a m apart; but as long as we are spending money the government is ok with it!

But the government isn't ok with it! Per the guidance, which says they can close pubs or restaurants for letting you do just that!

in germany they are suggesting people take blankets to school due to making sure they have ventilation.

@HostessTrolley

But also people who are not in the same household but are in an established relationship don’t have to socially distance... There’s no wonder people are confused...

But isn't that the support bubble? Your household plus an established partner - which I guess works for single people or single parents, not so much for parents of adult children who want to see their own partners

Yes I always thought it was a bit strange when people were positing photos of them with different people in different restaurants/bars on different days. But in Wales we were only allowed to merge 4 bubbles and then we went into local lockdown, and now this "firebreak" so I haven't really socialised at all anyway.

@DameFanny well they haven't closed any pubs yet for this people have been meeting others in groups of 6 for weeks

Well why aren't all these pubs and bars being closed down then? If it's common knowledge to us it'll be common knowledge to whoever's in charge of policing this. Why aren't they acting?

I guess a lot of pubs don't know or care @timeforanewstart