As the Pubs re-open, top tips to keep you safe.
This Saturday, 4 July 2020, pubs will re-open across England. In Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland this event will take place in the next few weeks.
Alongside this much welcomed news there is an appeal for calm celebration, as police forces across England announce they will deploy additional patrols.
It sounds like the authorities do not have confidence that everybody will follow the social distancing guidelines, and that there is a high probability of some problems.
Is there a risk?
Judging by what’s happened over the last few weeks, they are right to be concerned. It’s not only that there have been numbers of illegal gatherings, parties, raves, and a general breakdown of social distancing at places like beaches, it’s the amount of violence including murders.
So, what could happen?
First of all, if you are going out, England is a safe place and the vast majority of people will have a great time, no problems, and return home safely at the end of the day.
Anybody having a drink inside a pub or bar has to be sat and served at a table. The risk of breaking social distancing rules should be minimised by design. That also means that any friction points when you accidentally bump into somebody, or vice versa, should be removed and with it the risk of an angry or aggressive response.
So what’s the worst case?
The worst case will be where a pub does not control the people within it. It allows a group to become progressively loud, uncontrolled and aggressive. At that stage it will be likely that the aggressors are inebriated and no longer care about the controls, nor do they want to be calmed down.
Perhaps this is their first drink since lockdown and they have mis-judged their own limits and for any of a thousand or more reasons become aggressive. This may transition into a fist fight or wrestle, but could include glasses, bottles, or if they are carrying one, a knife.
Remember that experts are concerned about the general mental health of everybody as we come out of lockdown. The behaviour of some will, in some part, be governed by their general health and they may respond badly to what otherwise appears an innocuous event.
Keeping Safe
Here’s a few things you can do to help you stay safe.
- Plan your Day/Night out. The government has encouraged pubs to require people to book a table so that they can better manage themselves. Decide where you want to go and ring them. Book your table, for the time you want. Street Safe Thinking – Habit 3.
- Recognise that things are still different. When you get there, it is important that you recognise that we will not be back in the pre virus days. If you see friends across the bar, you cannot go and join them. Wave and nod but understand that there are still constraints on the numbers of households which can meet up. In all other respects social distancing rules continue. Street Safe Thinking – Habit 4.
- Know your Limits. You may have been having a few drinks at home, but in a more limited manner. If so, recognise that you are no longer accustomed to drinking as much alcohol. Just because you are out for the night doesn’t mean you have to drink all night. Stop when you reach your limit.
- Make sure one of your group is sober. If you are drinking, make sure that at least one of your group is sober and will look out for you. This obviously includes driving home if that’s how you will be travelling. Street Safe Thinking – Habit 6.
- Plan how you will get there and back. Public transport and taxi availability is far more limited. Plan how you will be getting in and out of town, or wherever you are going.
- Remember, you’ve gone for a good night out. Don’t get into a shouting match. If something does happen within your group or between tables, don’t let yourselves get pulled into an altercation or any conflict. Sit yourselves down, trake a breath, calm down and if necessary decide that this is the time to leave. Street Safe Thinking – Habit 2.
- If it looks like there will be any trouble. Leave and go home. You can always have another beer or glass of wine when you get home.
- Don’t carry a knife. It may seem obvious, it is after all illegal but don’t carry a knife.
- Call the Police. In the worst case scenario, you may feel threatened and in danger, with no means of getting away. If so, call the police and let them do their job.
and of course, your fail safe
There is one guaranteed way to avoid any trouble. Don’t go out.
If you are at all worried about what could happen, then stay at home and have an extra glass of wine there.
