Opinion - Precautionary measures must be regarded as temporary

Pat Nolan Editor

patnolan@mediateam.ie

@drinksind_ie

BY NOW, nearly everyone has been affected by the soul-destroying sameness of our days in Lockdown.

But at the time of going to press, precautionary measures all form partand-parcel of the loss of that ‘socialisation’ that has characterised the Irish pub for countless generations.

Such measures have been deemed part of the ‘new reality’ for pubs re-opening post-Covid-19, but realistically we have to consider them temporary.

“It doesn’t mean that any For by its very nature, this new reality is one that cannot be present Covid-19 precautions must remain an unwelcome resident in our pubs indefinitely”

For by its very nature, this new reality is one that cannot be sustained by the country's pubs indefinately.

Here's why. . .

The very essence that attracts people in society to the pub in the first place the first place – its very ‘sociability’ – will have been lost.

Who’d want to drop into their local if these restrictions - staying two metres apart and only allowed filter in a few at a time - remained in place?

So perhaps it’s best to look on any such Social Distancing measures as being for the short-term only or pubs – like restaurants – could no longer afford to pay their way in business.

What pub could afford the cost of Satellite TV for just a few Socially Distanced customers watching Premier League?

What outlet could afford the cost of a Special Exemption Order if it only covered a few late-night revellers?

As a sector we have to believe that once this virus has been defeated by the eventual introduction of anti-virals or vaccines, these protective measures can be dismantled and the on-trade can get back to doing what it does best – providing an environment conducive to conversation and socialising, for it’s that very ‘people proximity’ that creates the pub’s unique atmosphere.

And believe it or not, there is a silver lining to this Covid-19 cloud. If anything has been learned in this it’s that we’ll need to respond a lot more quickly to the next viral pandemic.

For Covid-19 is unlikely to be the last such global affliction and the experience of this one’s economic and social effects should go a long way towards making us much better prepared for when the next one comes along.

And there will be a next one.

But until that next one comes along it doesn’t mean that any present Covid-19 precautions must remain an unwelcome resident in our pubs indefinitely.

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O P I N I O N

August 2020 | DRINKS INDUSTRY IRELAND