Alcohol

[Stopandlook]

Could the country not just go alcohol free in pubs and restaurants / general for a few months?
Wouldn’t that be a better way for the economy to keep going than shutting pubs.
🤔

I guess such a large amount of profit comes from the sale of alcoholic drinks compared to food that it might not be worth them opening.

I think a lot of people wouldn't bother going to pubs or restaurants if they can't be served alcohol. It would be pretty devastating for businesses in that sector.

Not really huge amount of tax comes from alcohol sales since we tax it way more than food so it’s not just profits but the exchequer that would suffer.

I suppose. Just seems it may help but it’s not realistic, and very idealistic, I recognize that.

Why would I go to the pub for a sparkling water? As a DD sure, but it's nit going to make the pubs any money when everyone has a soda and lime or similar.

Why would that make any difference whatsoever to covid rates. Its large numbers of people in one place that will spread it regardless of whether they are drinking a coke or a vodka

I pay a lot for a soda and lime - extortionate!
Just looking at the crowds of drunk people, and personally experiencing drunk people on the train not wearing masks, alcohol seems to have a lot to answer for.
We either want to find solutions or we don’t.

No! Prohibition failed spectacularly when the Americans tried it. I enjoy a glass of wine with my meal when eating out and am not interested in paying restaurant prices if I am expected to drink water. Nicola Sturgeon's new wheeze is insulting and I just pray Boris does not copy her.

The early closing of pubs is because of extended alcohol drinking causing breakdown in social distancing- that was stated today.

Why punish people further? I look forward to a socially distanced pint after a day at work.

But the pubs and restaurants are going to be forced to close anyway! I’m just wondering if we can have some normality by not drinking to excess.

I like a drink as much as the next person by the way. I just want my life back

I was just thinking about this, how so many of the issues being discussed around COVID centre on alcohol consumption and how to be able to do it safely.

Students gathering to drink, people meeting up at house parties, the hospitality industry (which, essentially, provides people with the means to access alcohol)...

I’m not judging as I’m a massive wine addict myself, but I just think if you look at it from the outside and how alcohol is so dominant in our lives, it’s really bloody odd.

Problem is that there is no evidence to suggest any link between alcohol consumption and Covid

I honestly think schools are far worse than pubs as far as spreading the virus goes.

At one of our local primaries a teacher in reception has tested positive, and although the whole year group now have to isolate their parents don't and are still going to workplaces. One parent in question works with me in a large office of at least 50 people - her partner has since also tested positive and they are both self isolating but the damage may already be done for their respective workplaces!

The main issues I've seen as far as pubs are concerned is as people are leaving - the 10pm curfew made this even worse as everyone has been leaving at the same time and packing onto public transport! I am in contact with several pubs and restaurants through work and all have been trying their damnedest to adhere to social distancing rules and keep everyone safe so they can remain open.

I’m not suggesting pubs are any worse or better at spreading the virus, I just think the virus highlights how central to our lives alcohol has become.

So panic buy booze now for the long dry spell ahead, right?

The government might as well just put the hospitality industry out of their misery now than engage in this ridiculous death by a thousand cuts.

Banning alcohol sales in pubs / restaurants will have no impact whatsoever on the number of cases. However, let them press on, I'm sure they've got a plan to recoup the loss of tax revenue and get everyone a new job.

They could try but they would soon go out of business. Personally I could cope if pubs and restaurants shut for a few months, it wouldn't impact my life greatly but I do understand the economic consequences for these businesses do people who work there. I would be more upset if schools were to shut TBH.

The main issues I've seen as far as pubs are concerned is as people are leaving - the 10pm curfew made this even worse as everyone has been leaving at the same time and packing onto public transport!
Yes I wonder which joker came up with the 10pm curfew idea? Hmmm what can we do to reduce the spread of infection. Oooh I know let's throw thousands of people out of pubs and restaurants at exactly the same time so they all congregate together and pile into shops, subways and buses.
Not two brain cells to rub together

Yeah pubs are going to stay open just selling soft drinks, I do wonder if people who come out with this even go in pubs.

It's as barmy as theScottish idea are allowed to stay open but cannot serve booze inside, and can outside in Scotland in October, She didn't shut pubs outside the five areas, so she can say she hasn't shut them, but effectively she did.

I don’t understand applying this to restaurants. Everyone is seated and you hardly do shots and get hammered with your mates. It seems daft.

I wouldn’t go out for dinner to a restaurant to drink lemonade.
I wouldn’t go to the pub for a sparkling water

Alcohol is where bars & restaurants make money. Without alcohol on sale, less people would visit and it wouldn’t be worth opening

The pub cases ive heard of are pub crawls. So i certainly think that should be banned.
1 local man who was supposed to Q after a holiday went in 3 pubs.
I think the issues will be
higher risk clients
Possibly younger
there may be other factors like say smokers and canabis smokers which are possibly protective
But if you are happy to be in a crowded pub then you might be more likely to do other things too.
And o f course now lots of students are infected.

@Keepdistance How would you ban people going from one pub to another? It would be impossible to monitor and police.