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Covid

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Original poster

Flouting social distancing in pubs

28 replies

Lostnameperson · 10/07/2020 23:26

Friend of a friend posted a photo on Facebook of 5 of them together. Just like a pre-covid group photo, no social distancing whatsoever, at first I thought they must have edited it to make them appear close but it must definitely hadn’t been.
These people aren’t stupid, so why are they acting so stupidly?
And no-one seems to be calling them out on this.
I despair, I really really despair.

Are pubs reluctant to enforce distancing for fear of upsetting customers? Do they not see that they’re very likely to end up closing again if this sort of behaviour continues, or are they probably just as blasé about the risk that’s still out there?

OP posts:

Qasd · 10/07/2020 23:29

They will not enforce within groups no! Of course not they do not know who lives with who who is a social bubble. They will between group re keeping tables apart but to expect pubs to talk to groups the their personal circumstances who lives with who, who is alone and allowed to social bubble etc is a step a bit far for a private business!

Original poster

Lostnameperson · 10/07/2020 23:40

This is not a university town where groups of women live together in one house!

OP posts:

Qasd · 10/07/2020 23:51

And a Lib would know that? Seriously just to check you expect a pub worker on the minimum wage to question the living and personal situation of every person sat round a table (how did we not know there were couples in their, social bubbles etc)...no I am sorry that is not going to happen. Individuals are asked to social distance from this who they are not in a household and not in a social bubble with it is not for pubs to enquire into the personal lives of their customers due to the typical make up of households in the community they serve...that way madness lies!!

Hardbackwriter · 10/07/2020 23:52

Maybe stop Facebook stalking friends of friends if it bothers you so much?

Redolent · 10/07/2020 23:54

Unfortunately, this is why pubs are a perfect vector for transmission. And why they’ve just closed up again in many US states.

Hope they’ve left their contact details for track and trace.

ScottishStottie · 10/07/2020 23:56

Of course pub staff cant police this.

They have a responsibility to keep distance between different groups, but no they cant start asking about the personal circumstance of everyone in the pub.

Original poster

Lostnameperson · 10/07/2020 23:57

Seriously just to check you expect a pub worker on the minimum wage to question the living and personal situation of every person sat round a table

No, first and foremost I expect people to do what they’ve been asked and distance from people not in their household.

And I don’t know whether they were all sat together or were sat apart but moved in for the photo. If it’s the latter then yes, that would be a reason for staff to intervene.

OP posts:

bombaychef · 10/07/2020 23:57

Do most people care any more? We are careful but we are in the minority now

Original poster

Lostnameperson · 10/07/2020 23:58

@Hardbackwriter have you heard of tagging?

OP posts:

AskingforaBaskin · 11/07/2020 00:00

Seriously just to check you expect a pub worker on the minimum wage to question the living and personal situation of every person sat round a table

It would actually be the responsibility of the General manager or on duty license holder who can be on £50K

And yes. They should be doing it. Customers are their responsibility.

Destroyedpeople · 11/07/2020 00:03

I think that if I hear that STUPID word 'flouting' one more time I will scream.

Redolent · 11/07/2020 00:10

@Destroyedpeople

I think that if I hear that STUPID word 'flouting' one more time I will scream.

What about flaunting?

Destroyedpeople · 11/07/2020 00:13

Hmmm....flaunting is bad but flouting is way worse...
In fact there is now a little list if words that put my teeth on edge..
'Flouting'
'Rules'
'Vulnerable '
'Shielding '
....

billybogeye · 11/07/2020 00:18

@Destroyedpeople

Hmmm....flaunting is bad but flouting is way worse... In fact there is now a little list if words that put my teeth on edge.. 'Flouting' 'Rules' 'Vulnerable ' 'Shielding ' ....

I'm afraid that flocking is the worst of all and you missed that off your list

Destroyedpeople · 11/07/2020 00:20

Flocking hell I think you are right...

MoreW1ne · 11/07/2020 06:44

They're not acting stupidly. You're just not happy so you call it stupid behaviour to justify how you are feeling and come here hoping for further justification of your feelings.

It's like me saying your overly scared and anxious so your virtually certain twitching. Find a hobby...

Just your opinion and my opinion. Stupid isn't a factual thing you get to decide.

Just focus on yourself. At least you've seen the picture so you can ignore seeing this friend for a few weeks if you're worried about their behaviour.

Original poster

Lostnameperson · 11/07/2020 07:22

So it’s fine just to ignore the advice of the Chief Medical Officer because you personally don’t see it as being important or necessary? What do you think he would call this behaviour?

Have you seen what has happened elsewhere in the world where lockdown has been lifted and there has been a total disregard for distancing?

I can’t ignore other people’s behaviour when it has such huge potential for having a negative impact on us all.

What sort of a society do we end up with where people just focus on themselves? I’ve no doubt the people in the photo are focusing on themselves, but everyone has a responsibility to consider the wider implications of their behaviour.

OP posts:

Pinniped · 11/07/2020 08:02

@Lostnameperson I agree with you and would feel the same. I believe that we should each take responsibility for remembering that the virus has not gone away and behave - as was advised in the early days - as if we could have it, for the benefit of society as a whole (and I include the economy in that). Which means following the guidance.

Jrobhatch29 · 11/07/2020 08:10

How do you know they didnt just move togethet briefly for a photo and then move apart again? When are we going to stop policing each others behaviour?

nether · 11/07/2020 08:12

a) groups of six couid be some sort of bubble. Yes, I get your point about same sex being less likely, but it's far from impossible. Basically, if up to 6 are in the group, no matter what they think of how they look, they will be treated as a bubble.

b) it is not compulsory to go to pubs, so if the conduct in pubs is concerning you don't go.

And I say that as someone who is still in a shielding household, who really understands how very, very, shit it is to see other people with different safely advice, and the feeling of being left out, and the concern that they are the ones getting the fun in ways that make it impossible for us ever to, because we need the 2m, even outdoors

Fully agree with the potential of the choices of those who can go out and about for non-essential reasons are likely to have a huge impact on everybody.

Shielding pauses in a few weeks. But will it be safe for us to go out into a non-SD, widely mingling world?

mightbealittlebitmad · 11/07/2020 08:20

It's not our job to police SD providing people aren't causing a nuisance. People are adults, if they want to get close to one another then that's their choice, we have several tables where we know for a fact that people don't live together but they aren't causing trouble and are sat having a chat at the same table.

If we had to police everything nobody would come out, we wouldn't have business and everywhere would end up going under.

RightOnTheEdge · 11/07/2020 08:34

Destroyedpeople I never want to hear the word unprecedented ever again!
Also second and wave in the same sentence!

I work in a pub. We have made so many changes to help with social distancing. Screens at the bar, no standing around, spaced out tables and screens between tables so now they are like booths, only one staff member allowed to take food and a different one to clear plates, one use menus.
So many new rules and measures but we have been told that no more than 6 people are allowed to sit together but that it is not our job to question where they all live.

Destroyedpeople · 11/07/2020 08:53

And "ramping up"....wtf was that about?
What was wrong with 'increase'?

Yesitsthethruth123 · 11/07/2020 08:57

Ooh flouting.

And you're in despair.

You forgot to say selfish though.

NOS4A2 · 11/07/2020 08:58

[quote Pinniped]@Lostnameperson I agree with you and would feel the same. I believe that we should each take responsibility for remembering that the virus has not gone away and behave - as was advised in the early days - as if we could have it, for the benefit of society as a whole (and I include the economy in that). Which means following the guidance.[/quote]
I am interested in how long people are expected to behave this way, It is currently believed 1 in 3900 have it. How low does that need to be before we can start acting like we are not all plague carriers?

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