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

I work in a cafe and I can tell you that loads of people break this law. We ask if they are in the same household and if they say yes then we can’t do anything even when it’s blatantly obvious that there not.

@Treesofwood it's 1 in 200 at the moment. You choose to take that risk and you infect someone vulnerable who does choose to take the risk. How hard is this? We've been doing it for 7 months.

Not in my area its not 1 in 200.

If I was infected with Covid I wouldn't go to the pub. Obviously.

But you wouldn't even know you were infected for 2 days

@Hardbackwriter

No, you can't sit right next to them @tinty - the distancing still applies. It applies in a restaurant, in someone's home, in a shop - everywhere. Unless it's a member of your own household or support bubble.

Again, you're mixing up 'can't' and 'shouldn't'. You can, but you're not following the guidance which means you shouldn't.

This basically....

Damefanny I just hold my breath for two days after meeting people and then breathe a big sigh of relief.

I know that I can go walking with 5 more people in a walking group.
I know that I am supposed to socially distance when I am with them.

I know that I can meet 5 people in a pub who I don't know but who could be in a social group.

I know that I can interact with them - but must socially distance with them.

I know that the group I am with can't mingle with another group.

I see plenty of people in pubs and restaurants who are in a group and are not socially distancing.

Luckily guidance is not the law.

I have to say, this has baffled me too. I’ve been out for dinner with friends, but did wonder how we weren’t breaking the rules as we clearly weren’t social distancing. I definitely think this is an example of the rules being unclear.

[quote 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[/quote]
You do what you want to do and mind your own business

1 metre distance is allowed in Scotland. 1 metre zone.

The Scottish government said in its briefing on Thursdayy* : "For illustrative purposes and to allow businesses to start to plan, we are publishing today the kinds of mitigations that might be required in each sector.
"However in general terms, these might include improved ventilation; Perspex screens; regulation of customer flow and seating plans that reduce transmission risk.
"For hospitality and possibly others, mitigation will also include the collection of names and addresses of customers, to help with contact tracing when that is necessary.
"And we will also insist on clear customer information to help inform the judgments we all make as individuals about the risks we are prepared to take.
"So if a business decides to operate at less than 2m, they should provide clear signage informing their customers that they are entering a one-metre zone.
"We hope to have guidance agreed for the start of phase 3 and ahead of the opening of tourism and hospitality from 15 July."

I agree with you OP. I also don't understand why people don't realise they need to keep distanced from others in their group of 6 (unless the live with them/are in a support bubble) when in pubs and restaurants.

It's confused me for a while - people stand apart when they meet someone they know on the street or in a shop but in a pub they squeeze in around tables next to each other... I've been out for a meal with 2 friends and we were able to SD, also out with DP and another couple and we SD from the other couple. Not sure why people bother with SD in other circumstances if not bothering at the pub?

Every time Boris and his pals are on, I find myself ranting that they don't emphasise social distancing. It was even mentioned in the prime ministers question time and then he still didn't raise it in the public announcement. People really don't seem to know they should be distancing from anyone not in their household.

That's interesting @LizzieMacQueen - you've probably guessed I'm in England

@ThirdOne it's weird isn't it? I guess it's just easy to assume that pubs are open = government thinks it's safe, forgetting that this particular government just wants our money and blame us if we do catch covid.

Though a PP was saying her cafe customers were openly lying about being in the same household, so I don't know what their thought-process - or lack of - is

Maybe it's as simple as they don't care if we get sick/die, as long as they can blame it on us SMaCM

I am confused.
I have just checked the guidance for medium risk, which I think is Tier 1 (there not being a low risk anywhere).
The Guidance says;

The guidance does not state that the group of 6 must each be 2 metres apart from each other.

The guidance does not state that the group of 6 must each be 2 metres apart from each other.

Exactly. And if they were breaking the law, all the places that have been inspected and allowed 'normal' seating with 6 or fewer would have been closed down.

I'm pretty sure that if you 'meet' with 5 others who could be from different households and aren't in your 'bubble' you are supposed to be social distancing still. But no one and I mean, no one I know, or have seen, including people who generally do take it seriously is doing this. I haven't been able to, especially with children. I think people just think, they are forming a 'bubble' with whoever they are meeting up with. I just make sure I don't meet up with loads of different people at the moment and I don't often have people in my house. Because not everyone is doing this. Some people are mixing in multiple bubbles frequently.

PHE stats:

A total of 3,154 Covid-19 outbreaks were recorded between 3 August and 4 October, including:
171 outbreaks (5.4%) in restaurants or food outlets
835 outbreaks (26.4%) in educational facilities
933 outbreaks (29.6%) in care homes
661 outbreaks (21.0%) in workplaces

@Zippy1510

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.

This. I went to the pub with friends today. We didn’t hug or touch (we would normally), we sat a little apart but not two metres. Many people are balancing competing priorities and adopting a middle ground.

The government has been very careful to use the phrase "where possible" throughout the social distancing guidance. I.e. people are advised to try and keep 2 or 1 metres apart where possible - and take extra precautions when they can't do this. The rule of 6 is something that can be enforced, keeping 1 or 2 metres apart however is just guidance and not a rule.

@DameFanny

You have to distance from other households - 2 metres, or 1 metre with a mask or a screen. How is that possible on most restaurant tables?

As far as I'm aware the 2m/1m has always been guidance and not law

Haven't read all the comments.
Don't speak for everyone though.
I'm still enjoying going out when I can but I'm sitting outdoors with a cup of tea when I'm meeting up/cafe outdoor areas/pub beer gardens or whatever..
Regardless of how people huff as they want me indoors meeting.