Study questions ability for pubs to operate safely during pandemic
Stirling University found "potentially significant risks of covid-19 transmission" in a review of nearly 30 venues.
A first-of-its-kind study's questioning whether pubs can operate during the pandemic.
Stirling University's found "potentially significant risks of covid-19 transmission" in a review of nearly 30 venues.
Researchers posed as customers between July and August 2020, incidents were recorded in all but three venues.
Professor Niamh Fitzgerald said: “Our study explored and observed business practices and behaviours of customers and staff in licensed premises in summer 2020 with a view to understanding if and how COVID-19 transmission risks could be managed in settings where alcohol is served.
"We interviewed business owners and representatives prior to re-opening to understand the challenges being faced.
"When pubs reopened last July, following the initial UK lockdown, our team visited premises to observe how government measures designed to reduce transmission risks in hospitality settings were working in practice, including any incidents likely to increase those risks.
“Businesses expressed an intention to work within the guidance, but there were commercial and practical challenges to making this a reality.
"Upon re-opening, substantial efforts to change the layout of bars were observed and appeared to be working well in many premises, but problems were common including staff not wearing personal protective equipment, or with the management of toilets, queues and other ‘pinch points’.
Shouting and hugging
"We also observed several incidents of greater concern – including customers shouting, embracing or repeatedly interacting closely with several households and staff – which were rarely addressed by staff.
“We concluded that, despite the efforts of bar operators and guidance from government, potentially significant risks of COVID-19 transmission persisted in at least a substantial minority of observed bars, especially when customers were intoxicated.
"Closures of premises can eliminate these risks, but also cause significant hardship for business owners and staff.”
It was funded by the Scottish Government to aid decision making.
Pub bosses hit back
But Paul Waterson from the Scottish Licensed Trade Association hopes politicians ignore it.
"We would have grave concerns about any study which reached it's conclusion based on 29 premises, when we have around 11,500 in our sector," he said.
"This study tarnishes the reputation of our pubs, bars, restaurants and hotels who spent around £80m to become covid-compliant and worked really hard at protecting our customers from transmission of the virus.
"We don't believe that anyone should judge the licensed hospitality business in Scotland but this study and I'm sure MSPs will look at this, see the small sample and not take it as a representative study."