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Original poster

Experiment- stop serving alcohol- will it improve awareness of social distancing and reduce the spread? Discuss

64 replies

InthekeyofG · 23/09/2020 07:59

Now don’t get me wrong, I like drinking beer down the pub.
However, after a certain amount I have less inhibition. That’s a fact of alcohol.
But I’m wondering, if for a trial period of time, alcoholic drinks were stopped being served in pubs, bars, restaurants etc - would that be one added way of reducing the spread of Covid?
Places could still sell everything else, including low alcohol drink brands.
People could still drink at home. I’m not suggesting complete prohibition as we know that doesn’t work.
What do you think?

OP posts:
Fatted · 23/09/2020 08:00

Nearly half of covid infections are happening in care homes. I don’t think it will make a blind bit of difference what happens in pubs.

Bagelsandbrie · 23/09/2020 08:01

I think there should be a drink limit in pubs. 2 per person or something. And then non alcoholic only after that. Maybe having to scan a code on your phone to get one of your two allocated drinks or something? I don’t know really. I do think getting drunk or tipsy lowers adherence to social distancing etc. But I also know it would ruin the hospitality and alcohol industry which is worth a lot of money and keeps people in work!

Original poster
InthekeyofG · 23/09/2020 08:03

This is an added measure for a short period of time.
Care homes, my daughter works in one, should obviously be helped more.

OP posts:
TeddyIsaHe · 23/09/2020 08:07

Yes, let’s just let this dystopian nightmare go even further.

Also, no one should drive cars because air pollution increases risks of lung infections, and people are only allowed to consume 850 calories a day because being fat is a risk factor.

shakymum · 23/09/2020 08:08

Yes to a reduction in alcohol consumption. It’s long overdue in this country - COVID or no COVID.

carrythecan · 23/09/2020 08:09

I don't think it'd would make a blind bit of difference. The figures show that pubs are only listed as being the source for a small, percentage of cases. As pp mentioned, care homes are by far the most common source.

Apart from that, most pubs and restaurants are following the strict guidelines & measures very closely. If alcohol weren't available, then people would socialise in homes, where they can drink and socialise in an unregulated manner, resulting in them getting more drunk and possibly spreading the infection more widely.

lughnasadh · 23/09/2020 08:10

Has anyone actually studies the effect pubs have on spread? You read about the odd case where a pub closs because of track and trace, but actual numbers on a population level?

Because I don't know anyone who goes to pubs at all.

Restaurants, and theatre bars, yes, but not pubs. I thought they were dying off.

Original poster
InthekeyofG · 23/09/2020 08:11

@TeddyIsaHe

Yes, let’s just let this dystopian nightmare go even further.

Also, no one should drive cars because air pollution increases risks of lung infections, and people are only allowed to consume 850 calories a day because being fat is a risk factor.

How many calories you consume or driving a car is not a factor in people being unable to socially distance effectively.
OP posts:
xtinak · 23/09/2020 08:11

Might just encourage drinking at home, and having people round to drink, which could be even worse.

nancy75 · 23/09/2020 08:12

An excellent way to destroy the pub industry by stealth! They would be open so not eligible for any help despite being totally empty. Meanwhile loads of people will be getting pissed at home with no social distancing, no track & trace, probably no ventilation & nobody checking how many people are there.

Sirzy · 23/09/2020 08:13

And have no pubs at the other side of all this.

All that would do is push people to drink more at home in groups which there is no way to monitor

OpenlyGayExOlympicFencer · 23/09/2020 08:14

It's true that drunk people cannot be expected to SD and it's stupid to expect them to. However, pubs where people can't drink alcohol are just not going to work, and won't be able to afford to stay open, so I wouldn't be particularly impressed at a plan that tried to swerve this. If you want to close the pubs, come out and say so.

Gigglr · 23/09/2020 08:15

If track and trace were actually working then Ed have better data but it isn't and we don't. Pubs have servers without masks and patrons with no masks. It's not rocket science that this isn't exactly fabulous.

Stinkyguineapig · 23/09/2020 08:15

Some countries (I think Thailand and South Africa) stopped selling alcohol as part if their lockdown measures. I presumed (but cant be sure) that it wasnt sold in supermarkets or off licences either.

Hopefully someone more knowledgable can add more explanation....

Original poster
InthekeyofG · 23/09/2020 08:16

@xtinak

Might just encourage drinking at home, and having people round to drink, which could be even worse.
Yes I was thinking that too. But I guess that is happening anyway. But there are measures in place to restrict numbers in homes - different depending where you live - and that could become stricter in England if deemed necessary.
OP posts:
TeddyIsaHe · 23/09/2020 08:17

@InthekeyofG But the whole point of lockdown/slowing the spread is to prevent hospitals being overwhelmed. So it has a massive impact actually.

Original poster
InthekeyofG · 23/09/2020 08:18

@OpenlyGayExOlympicFencer

It's true that drunk people cannot be expected to SD and it's stupid to expect them to. However, pubs where people can't drink alcohol are just not going to work, and won't be able to afford to stay open, so I wouldn't be particularly impressed at a plan that tried to swerve this. If you want to close the pubs, come out and say so.
No I don’t want to close pubs. My little bit of return to normality has been being back in my local on Saturday
OP posts:
TheClitterati · 23/09/2020 08:21

They do this in South Africa:

www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-53390287

OpenlyGayExOlympicFencer · 23/09/2020 08:23

@Stinkyguineapig

Some countries (I think Thailand and South Africa) stopped selling alcohol as part if their lockdown measures. I presumed (but cant be sure) that it wasnt sold in supermarkets or off licences either.

Hopefully someone more knowledgable can add more explanation....

They can't have anything like as many alcohol dependent people as we do, if they did. People with a physical dependency on alcohol can't have it withdrawn or you have a public health crisis. Alcohol detox is dangerous when not managed properly.

You may not want to propose closing pubs OP, but what you are proposing would mean lots of them couldn't afford to stay open: basically the ones where people go for the alcohol not the food. I say this as someone who hasn't gone in because SD is in no way being practiced in my local.

Popcornismandatory · 23/09/2020 08:26

You lost me at DiscussHmm

Northernsoullover · 23/09/2020 08:28

People wouldn't go to pubs with no alcohol served. People in the UK actually see getting wankered as a legislation pastime.

Northernsoullover · 23/09/2020 08:28

Legitimate. Fucking phone.

middleager · 23/09/2020 08:29

We seem to be obsessed with pubs but I haven't seen any data to substantiate the theory that this is where transmission is happening.

In my city we have a local.lockdown as we were told community transmission is happening from gatherings and visits at other homes.

During this whole campaign I swear football and pubs have been mentioned more than education.

AlecTrevelyan006 · 23/09/2020 08:33

Pubs are not driving the increase in cases.