News Round-Up
26 July 2024
Government Has Just Declared War on Free Speech
26 July 2024
by Toby Young
Plans for vaccine passports appear to be back on the table. People may be required to show a "Covid certificate" later this year to enter bars, restaurants and nightclubs under plans to combat a "fourth wave".
The continuation of social distancing and other restrictions means around four million fewer pints will be sold in pubs during the Euro 2020 final on Sunday as pubs across the country struggle to break even.
Only those who are fully vaccinated against Covid will be able to enjoy indoor hospitality when it finally reopens in Ireland. People who have received one dose, or who are unvaccinated, will be forced to stay outside.
40% of Brits say their favorite pubs are still closed because of social distancing. But the Government seems mainly to be focusing on introducing more measures, with vaccine passports in pubs seemingly back on the table.
Nightclubs and bars are considering suing the Government to prevent the extension of lockdown beyond June 21st, according to reports.
The reopening of pubs indoors last month has been hampered by the continuation of Government restrictions, particularly social distancing, which has resulted in a 20% slump in trade compared with pre-lockdown levels.
Almost a quarter of Britain's pubs and restaurants have yet to reopen since the partial easing of hospitality restrictions and 7.4% of the country's pre-lockdown total have already closed for good.
The reopening of indoor hospitality earlier this week came too late for many businesses as data reveals that six pubs have closed every week during Government-imposed lockdowns.
A triple whammy of heavy rain, high winds and low temperatures has kept pubgoers away from exposed beer gardens today – many pubs across England haven't bothered opening at all.
For the Lockdown panjandrums on SAGE, this Hogarthian image is what they think the average beer garden looks like on a Saturday afternoon. The war on pubs is a war being waged by puritans against joy, says Sean Walsh.
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