Experts warn pubs still pose Covid risk after JD Wetherspoon boss Tim Martin calls for earlier reopening

Mr Martin claimed that hospitality groups have provided the Government with information that “clearly demonstrates” that pubs and restaurants are Covid-secure environments,
Tim Martin announces Wetherspoon results
Tim Martin warned on Monday that the pub industry was “on its knees” and needed to reopen to save jobs.
PA

Pubs and bars continue to pose as a Covid risk despite efforts to make venues safe, experts say.

The findings came after the boss of JD Wetherspoon called on the Government to open pubs at the same time as non-essential shops.

Tim Martin warned on Monday that the pub industry is “on its knees” and needed to reopen to save jobs.

He also claimed that hospitality groups have provided the Government with information that “clearly demonstrates” that pubs and restaurants are Covid-secure environments, following the investment of hundreds of millions of pounds in safety and hygiene measures.

But experts say despite efforts made last year to adhere to measures, venues remain a risk for the spread of the virus, with research carried out in Scotland over the summer revealing key issues.

FILE PHOTO: A worker serves a beer at The Holland Tringham Wetherspoons pub in London
Mr Martin said Wetherspoon has registered more than 50 million customer visits to its pubs, using the Test and Trace system,
REUTERS

Business owners and representatives were interviewed before reopening to understand the challenges faced, with researchers then visiting 29 premises for up to two hours while posing as customers.

Problems included crowding, customers singing and staff not intervening and enforcing measures when necessary.

Research also found that in the majority of premises, no staff intervention in incidents or attempts to enforce restrictions were observed.

In some cases, staff intervened in a light-hearted way but such interventions were reported by the experts as largely ineffective.

While most venues required customers to provide details for contact tracing, nine businesses observed did not, including one venue visited after it was made mandatory by the Scottish Government in August.

Tim Martin warned that the pub industry is “on its knees” and needs to reopen to save jobs.
AFP via Getty Images

It is hoped the findings will inform governments, public health experts, and policymakers in the UK and other countries as they consider the pandemic’s impact on hospitality and the risks of lifting restrictions.

Professor Niamh Fitzgerald, director of the university’s Institute for Social Marketing and Health, led the research which was funded by the Scottish Government Chief Scientist Office.

She said: “Our study makes a unique contribution by providing the first evidence, including direct observation data, of how premises operated in practice when allowed to reopen during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Overall, our findings suggest grounds for uncertainty about the extent to which new rules can be consistently and effectively implemented in a sector where interaction between tables, households and strangers is the norm, and alcohol is routinely consumed.

“Despite the efforts of licensed premises, and detailed guidance from Government, potentially significant risks of Covid-19 transmission persisted in a substantial minority of observed bars – especially when customers were intoxicated.”

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