New rules

[TheWristBoundLatexBitch]

Covid: Pubs and restaurants in England to have 10pm closing times www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-54242634

So covid only comes out after 10 now! I don't actually see how this will make a difference as the half drunks will
Just move onto a house and won't care because they are half drunk (or drunk if they started early!)

I don't want people to lose jobs but this lack of action from the government is jaw-dropping. I watched yesterday's briefing and now nothing much is happening. I feel scared again, first time since early March. Bloody ridiculous.

@Tarararara

Maybe they've announced this to see what the public reaction is (which, going by here, is 'Is that it? Pathetic. We need more') and then he will announce further restrictions (e.g. the one household) tonight, once he knows the public mood.

I think this is exactly what they’re doing. They’re capitalising on people’s distrust of the government so that by this afternoon we’ll be begging for stricter measures. It’s clever but depressing.

10pm curfew is laughable, but table service only or booking slots to keep numbers down and minimise pub crawls is a good way to go. It's where we started but bars/pubs have definitely slacked off in that department.

There has to be more restrictions coming otherwise the PM wouldn't be making a televised speech at 8pm, what would be the point? Feels like deja vu to be honest.

Bbc morning news online says BJ has weighed up all considerations and opted to take it slowly...

PM to tell everyone to work from home if you can Oh look! A U-turn!

They’re capitalising on people’s distrust of the government so that by this afternoon we’ll be begging for stricter measures. It’s clever but depressing. Isn't it just.

Apparently it's more of a warning to start getting people to understand i.e. so government can bide their time and make sure people actually listen when further restrictions come in. It's a long time until spring.

Its still work from home if you can for most people isnt it? So many jobs cant....

I thought the restrictions would be harsher than this. However, I guess they need to balance the economic impact as well. If they close everything again many businesses will not re-open. It’s like living in a nightmare and I feel sorry for the younger generation who will bear the brunt of the economic fallout for many years to come.

I think there are a lot of issues with all the rules. But we need to also stop dissing everyone because it doesn’t seem obvious.

The government always said that the relaxed approach of the summer would end if cases went up. And that they would bring in enforcement. That means straightforward rules.

People crowding in and outside pubs and bars have been a problem. One that the police have not had the powers or political willingness to curb. The rule of six, early closing and table service provide the authorities with a fairly straight forward way to pinpoint the badly run establishments who are crowding them in and outside. Well run establishments can remain open. Sensible people can have a modicum of a life.

In my area pubs mostly close at 10pm anyhow, I like table service though

@HamishDent

I thought the restrictions would be harsher than this. However, I guess they need to balance the economic impact as well. If they close everything again many businesses will not re-open. It’s like living in a nightmare and I feel sorry for the younger generation who will bear the brunt of the economic fallout for many years to come.

I agree with this. The big difference is insisting on table service. I've been in a couple of pubs to eat since lockdown eased, they felt completely safe with no one standing and table service only. With groups of no more than 6, everyone seated at a SD and police enforcement it should stop the pile 'em in and club-cum-pub establishments.

Yes, this is idiotic. COVID doesn't only come out after dark, and people will spend just as long in the pub, drinking just as much....they'll arrive sooner and drink faster. Bonkers!

To be honest, I'm not sure there's a solution to all this. While schools remain open, rates will continue to rise even if we shut everything else down....and we shouldn't be shutting down now and killing the livelihoods of every small business or industry. But I also think schools need to stay open - we can't keep them shut forever, it doesn't help children or parents, nor workers or anyone's mental health.

So what do we do? I do think we need to learn to live with it. Better test and trace so we know what's happening, better curbing of large groups, and a much more Sweden-style of distancing/masking/keeping apart while at the same time going about our daily lives and not smashing up the economy.

It wasn't that long ago that pubs shut at 10:30 anyway. People coped.

I think the 10pm thing is a good idea. The age group where the virus is spreading fastest currently are the ones who preload at home and don't actually go out to bars until 10pm or later.

They will now be forced to stay home. The tricky bit will be making sure they stay in groups of six or less at home but neighbours etc... will soon report them for rule breaking when that happens. I work in student accommodation and the PCSOs are really active breaking up large gatherings in houses and fining them accordingly where I am.