Pubs

[Eric the Half a Bee]

While I can understand and, to a point, sympathise with those who look forward to going out for a pint, to meet up with friends etc, surely it's still about doing only what is essential, not doing as much as we are allowed? I've got friends who have refused to meet up with me since the March lockdown, who still won't go out anywhere, work from home, get their shopping home delivered. I had been looking forward to meeting up with some friends to watch the Swansea game, that won't happen now, but there's the off licence and zoom, which has been better than nothing.

December is traditionally a much busier time for pubs and the Covid rate is creeping up in Wales again. Of course, pubs aren't anywhere near as responsible for spreading Covid as schools and supermarkets, but I can live without visiting a pub for 3 weeks if it means any slight reduction in Covid transmission and more freedom around Christmas time.

As it is, it looks like the brief lockdown hasn't had the impact that was hoped. We could adopt the English tiered system, which would mean currently that all pubs and restaurants would be permanently shut. Clearly, closing schools and supermarkets is never going to happen as people need to buy food and schools, as a childcare facility, are essential for others to work. That means other things are fair game to closure.

[Tuerto]

It’s the way today, lack of social skills, all social media. Pubs used to provide a ray of hope for folk who had no one to chat to at home. I used to love just heading out to pubs and clubs knowing I’d see loads of people I knew, didn’t need to arrange anything, you just knew they’d be there.....

Social and sporting (admittedly for men) Pool teams, darts, skittles, affiliated to leagues and run properly. Football teams, it wasn't uncommon to have a firsts and a seconds run out of the local boozer. It must be said though that society has changed massively over the past 25 years, particularly the role of a man, add to that the demise of the traditional working class industries in manufacturing and heavy industry where people worked together for years, add to that family members etc. That side of a community is almost all gone. The days when a bloke could go on the piss for ten hours on a saturday and the wife and kids could lump it are long gone

[Eric the Half a Bee]

Today’s decision is a political embarrassment for the Welsh Government and an admission that their decision to open everything up after the short firebreak was a serious error. It was just about the last thing they wanted to do but they had no choice. Their motivation taking this decision was to protect the NHS and save lives and they get my support for that.

I'm in total agreement here, though apart from the delay in implementing the initial lockdown in March, I find it difficult to blame our politicians too much for their decisions, whether here or in Westminster. Both countries and parties in charge have made mistakes, made decisions that don't make sense, changed their minds rapidly (which I don't mind as that shows they've learned from a mistake) and so on.

The last month or so has shown things for what they are. Senedd and Stormont announce Firebreak lockdown. Westminster decline, saying there's no need as the tier system is ok. R comes down in Wales. England u-turn and announce a lockdown. Wales reopens. Wales quickly realise the short lockdown didn't have the required effect and impose new measures. England's rate reducing.

[goats]

Is there an end date to this closure? Or is he just going review it in 3 weeks or something?

[delmbox]

Late? That’s a thing of the past. It was 10pm and as the great man told us, that was a permission, not an invitation.

when the pub you're in closes at 6pm, then 10pm is late

[NYCBlue]

Is there an end date to this closure? Or is he just going review it in 3 weeks or something?

It would be madness to open pubs before 2021 at this point. The best the government could do now is to spell it out for everyone as soon as possible.

[xsnaggle]

So these people having house parties fuelled by cheap booze would otherwise behave responsibly if they could just go down the pub?

If they go to the pub they have to behave properly, particularly, as Delm commented, in local pubs, or they get thrown out because landlords value their licenses and checks are made.

[Eric the Half a Bee]

If they go to the pub they have to behave properly, particularly, as Delm commented, in local pubs, or they get thrown out because landlords value their licenses and checks are made.

Most. Places have been closed down. If we're honest, the possibility of being caught is high enough to force them to comply.

Having said that, I was out last Friday having a good swig with a couple of friends at a pub. No way were we all 2m apart, masks weren't worn when people left their tables, there were a few occasions where people sitting at one table came over to say something to those on another table, without masks. There were two members of staff there and that sort of thing is impossible to police.

[NYCBlue]

If they go to the pub they have to behave properly, particularly, as Delm commented, in local pubs, or they get thrown out because landlords value their licenses and checks are made.

You always have to behave properly in pubs. For example, fighting, doing coke and shagging girls in the toilets are not allowed. But I hear it happens.

[Eric the Half a Bee]

You always have to behave properly in pubs. For example, fighting, doing coke and shagging girls in the toilets are not allowed. But I hear it happens.

Next time I won't bother with the pub. I'll just head to the toilets!

[xsnaggle]

You always have to behave properly in pubs. For example, fighting, doing coke and shagging girls in the toilets are not allowed. But I hear it happens.

Easy to deliberately miss the point, which is that rules for being in the pub are generally well enforced by the publicans because their livelihood depends on not being closed down by inspectors.
There are no rules and no inspectors when people, including families gather in homes and drink booze they bought cheap in the supermarket

[RichardM]

If restaurants aren't allowed to serve alcohol can I go for a meal and take a bottle with me drink with my food?

[The Lone Gunman]

If restaurants aren't allowed to serve alcohol can I go for a meal and take a bottle with me drink with my food?

Don’t be daft. You’re not supposed to be enjoying yourself or behaving like a normal human being. This is Wales in 2020, mun. Covid see butt, innit?

[NYCBlue]

Easy to deliberately miss the point, which is that rules for being in the pub are generally well enforced by the publicans because their livelihood depends on not being closed down by inspectors.
There are no rules and no inspectors when people, including families gather in homes and drink booze they bought cheap in the supermarket

I'm not deliberately missing the point. I'm making the point that people do not always follow the rules. Also, what's the fascination with people at home drinking cheap booze? Do you think that won't happen if the pubs are open?

[Tuerto]

I'm not deliberately missing the point. I'm making the point that people do not always follow the rules. Also, what's the fascination with people at home drinking cheap booze? Do you think that won't happen if the pubs are open?

It's quite sad that snaggs seems to think that if the some of the public haven't the option to go to the pub, then their only alternative is to sit at home getting smashed on cheap booze, like it's some kind on natural regression. Say it quietly, there are other options.

[Wash DC Blue]

It's quite sad that snaggs seems to think that if the some of the public haven't the option to go to the pub, then their only alternative is to sit at home getting smashed on cheap booze, like it's some kind on natural regression. Say it quietly, there are other options.

To you, a self confessed optional social semi hermit who doesn’t enjoy going to the pub.
Widows/Widowers, Singletons and many others differ to you and rely on establishments like the Local Pub or Workingmens Club for company, comradeship and routine.

The lack of empathy or understanding of this is astounding.

Mental health, quite rightly has dominated our conscience for a number of years now.
Do you understand the detrimental effect the lack of such ingrained social outlets can have on some right now?

[Eric the Half a Bee]

To you, a self confessed optional social semi hermit who doesn’t enjoy going to the pub.
Widows/Widowers, Singletons and many others differ to you and rely on establishments like the Local Pub or Workingmens Club for company, comradeship and routine.

The lack of empathy or understanding of this is astounding.

Mental health, quite rightly has dominated our conscience for a number of years now.
Do you understand the detrimental effect the lack of such ingrained social outlets can have on some right now?

Much as I understand the detrimental effect that Covid has on some people.

[xsnaggle]

It's quite sad that snaggs seems to think that if the some of the public haven't the option to go to the pub, then their only alternative is to sit at home getting smashed on cheap booze, like it's some kind on natural regression. Say it quietly, there are other options.

no snaggs doesn't think that at all, but it is true that the virus is spread more by families and groups gathering together in unregulated places than it is spread in restaurants and pubs.
And sales figures will tell you that in lockdowns the sales of alcohol in supermarkets and off licences rocketed. The 2 things aren't just a coincidence.

[xsnaggle]

Much as I understand the detrimental effect that Covid has on some people.

Good of you to reply on Tuerto's behalf Eric!!

[Tuerto]

To you, a self confessed optional social semi hermit who doesn’t enjoy going to the pub.
Widows/Widowers, Singletons and many others differ to you and rely on establishments like the Local Pub or Workingmens Club for company, comradeship and routine.

The lack of empathy or understanding of this is astounding.

Mental health, quite rightly has dominated our conscience for a number of years now.
Do you understand the detrimental effect the lack of such ingrained social outlets can have on some right now?

To be honest, i don't really understand the detrimental effect the pub closures are having on people, although i do understand that some people need more social interaction than others, especially those who live on their own. i'd say that the two aren't mutually exclusive, there are other ways to socialise. I suppose that people need to adapt, it's not ideal, but if people care about each over then they'll find a way. I'm hardly a Hermit i just don't find most peoples company that stimulating, in fact i get bored very quickly and would much rather do something by myself. I do have people that i see from time to time, those people i like and respect.

[Tuerto]

no snaggs doesn't think that at all, but it is true that the virus is spread more by families and groups gathering together in unregulated places than it is spread in restaurants and pubs.
And sales figures will tell you that in lockdowns the sales of alcohol in supermarkets and off licences rocketed. The 2 things aren't just a coincidence.

maybe it's a reflection on society, plenty of people need to be pissed when in each others company, who knows?

[Eric the Half a Bee]

Good of you to reply on Tuerto's behalf Eric!!

Good of you to ignore the content of my reply.

[Eric the Half a Bee]

no snaggs doesn't think that at all, but it is true that the virus is spread more by families and groups gathering together in unregulated places than it is spread in restaurants and pubs.
And sales figures will tell you that in lockdowns the sales of alcohol in supermarkets and off licences rocketed. The 2 things aren't just a coincidence.

Is it not true that pubs needed proof of address to ensure that mainly households meet up? Groups from a mixture of households were never allowed, not at the same table.

[The Lone Gunman]

there are other ways to socialise

Examples?

[the other bob wilson]

If people's homes are considered to be enclosed, often poorly ventilated areas where the virus is able to spread more easily, why are pubs, enclosed, often poorly ventilated areas themselves, seen as "Covid safe environments" as I've heard them called on many occasions? As someone who spends very little time in pubs these days, I look back to the days when I did and think they would be among the worst places you could go in if you were trying to avoid catching the virus - genuine question, what has been done to pubs to make them so much safer when it comes to the virus than they would have been in the past?