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

It's it common knowledge because the government have made a right pigs ear of communicating the right messages about what the rules are. I'd love the obey the rules but I don't have a fucking clue what going on

I wasn't aware of this. I thought as long as rule of 6 was obeyed then it was ok to meet your friends in the pub. And have done so several times. So I guess you can be as shocked as you like but this was not at all obvious to me. And it makes no logical sense because sitting around a pub or restaurant table does not allow for 2m distancing.

I do think the rule of six was partly introduced because people were ignoring the SD, essentially an acknowledgement that it couldn't be stopped without putting into law and then it's still difficult to police (you can't easily prove whether you are or aren't in same household / bubble / established relationship) hence by limiting to six they were at least limiting the number of people who were meeting and not SD at the same time.

However, PPs are right that the SD bit is guidance not law hence people can choose to ignore it but they still shouldn't!

OP you are completely correct and it has baffled me for ages that everyone is ignoring it. It is quite clear in guidance on meeting friends and family in Tier 1 areas.

So yes, I guess government has a lot to do on the clarity of their messages

I guess people do know the rules but are choosing not to follow them.

@DameFanny are you suggesting people who sit in restaurants less than 2m from other households are breaking the law or not?

I think it depends what tier you are in.

However I find it hugely unfair that businesses can be shut down for something that realistically, they cannot police. Though I imagine its only those taking the piss who do actually get shut down.

Well they're not following the guidance @FractionalGains, and the restaurant could be closed down as a result of it

@DameFanny

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

I guess some of them are trying to keep their jobs and not end up destitute when the business goes under and there’s fuck all other jobs around.

What about a group of 6 secondary age kids, who are at school, in the same bubble...who spend all day together in a big busy school?

@DameFanny

Well they're not following the guidance *@FractionalGains*, and the restaurant could be closed down as a result of it

Breaking the law and not following guidance is an important distinction.

It's not dependent on the tier though @NRatched - this is the basic guidance for the reopening of pubs and restaurants.

You can meet 6 but still need to socially distance. I agree it was more simple when we couldn’t do anything but that wasn’t sustainable so it does get confusing but that’s the caveat for increased freedom. Reducing the number of people you’re within 2m of will reduce your risk.

I met a friend in a pub. We sat either side of a big table (about 1.5m diameter so sitting slightly back we were just under 2m). We staggered ourselves so we weren’t directly facing. However I’m very aware I’m more cautious than others around me and have friends meeting up who no longer invite me because I’m a kill joy - I’d lose my job or at least be disciplined if I’m found breaking the rules. I think my friendship circle will be vastly reduced by the end of all this, which makes me sad. I’m not telling people off or anything.

You are correct OP we should all still be distancing but people are not and restaurants etc could not really enforce this at a table level.

@FractionalGains? Why? In this instance? Don't you think people want to be doing the right thing? Whether guidance (within a set of emergency measures) or law?

@HazeyJaneII

What about a group of 6 secondary age kids, who are at school, in the same bubble...who spend all day together in a big busy school?

What about a 'bubble' of 200 teenagers being discouraged from wearing masks in school

In tier 1 areas you can meet in a group of 6 in a pub, but you need to socially distance from anyone who is not in your support bubble or household. This is very clear if you look at the social distancing guidance (www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-meeting-with-others-safely-social-distancing/coronavirus-covid-19-meeting-with-others-safely-social-distancing).

I think the OPs point is not that you cannot meet friends in a pub, but that you should socially distance from anyone you did not live with when meeting them in a pub. In reality this appears to be poorly understood and people are probably often not social distancing in these circumstances, which is really concerning.

I'm sorry for that @m0therofdragons

@DameFanny

It's not dependent on the tier though *@NRatched* - this is the basic guidance for the reopening of pubs and restaurants.

In that case, I do not understand how on earth its fine to book a table with 5 other people from different households. Yet its also against the rules/law to not be at least 1m from them. As how many places would be able to seat each person 1m from each ther on the same table?!

It sounds like yet anther ttally purposefully fudged 'rule' to me really.

If restaurants are told that people from 6 hoursholds can book together in tier 1 areas..thats what they will do. Even if some random add on to the rule thats much lesser known is that they can only do so if each person in the group of 6 is 1m+ apart

Yes @Satlie2019 - and I was shocked that people didn't get that and thought everything was fine as long as there were fewer than 5 other people on the table

Yes @NRatched, it's crazy isn't it?!

Although the distancing isn't a random add on - it's three basic principle that should be applying in every situation.

Basically the distancing guidelines, make no sense/cannot be done when you compare them to the rule of 6. They work outside. But not when booking together, even though booking together is allowed, and encouraged!

For some reason, I assumed give we are told its fine to book with 5 other friends from different households, that it was fine to book with up to 5 other friends from different households (in tier 1 areas.)

But yeah, the distancing rules would say that realistically, no, you cannot book with friends from different households at all unless you have a banquet table booked where you can all distance 1m+

What a bloody mess.

Luckily, we have avoided pubs/restaurants anyways. Ad are not in tier 1 anyway. But how confusing for those who are..

In that case, I do not understand how on earth its fine to book a table with 5 other people from different households.

It's not fine unless you know the place you are going to has big enough tables. Which is basically nowhere. But the pub/restaurant doesn't cross examine you about how many households you are - it leaves it up to you make sure you are SDing appropriately.

People keep saying the messages are confusing. But, naff slogan though it is, following "hands, face, space" covers a lot of what you should be doing.