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Evidence used to justify hospitality closures is “tenuous,” says IEA research
Research from the Institute of Economic Affairs, authored by Head of Lifestyle Economics Christopher Snowdon, casts doubt over the relevance of evidence on which Tier 2 and Tier 3 restrictions on the hospitality sector will be based.
Much of the evidence appears outdated – including the government’s description of ‘close, prolonged, indoors, face-to-face’ contact ‘in poorly ventilated and/or crowded spaces’ – and bears no resemblance to the British pub sector today.
Since July, regulations and counter-measures introduced when venues reopened have addressed a number of risk factors. For example, customers must be seated while drinking and must wear masks when standing or walking. Tables are spaced out to avoid crowding, and “loud activities” such as live music are no longer allowed.
While poor ventilation, crowding and activities that produce more aerosols (e.g. singing, aerobic activity) are risk factors for Covid-19 transmission, they are not unique to hospitality and have not been characteristic of hospitality venues in the UK since they reopened in the summer.
Further regulation could be imposed is necessary, as ventilation can be easily monitored using CO2 measurements. The use of beer gardens and pavement areas by pubs and restaurants could be permitted and encouraged.
There are risks that further restrictions of the pub sector will increase unregulated private gatherings where transmission of the virus is easier. The strengthening and effective enforcement of proven preventive measures should be used to help stem the spread of COVID-19, not new lockdowns and restrictions.
Christopher Snowdon, Head of Lifestyle Economics at the Institute of Economic Affairs and author of Pubs and Covid-19: Flawed Claims and Faulty Reasoning, said:
“In its efforts to justify carpet-bombing the nation’s pubs, Sage have cobbled together a handful of studies to give it the veneer of science. None of the studies suggest that pubs or bars are uniquely dangerous, many of them don’t mention pubs or bars at all, and most of them involve outbreaks in Asia in the early days of the pandemic when there was little or no social distancing.
“Sage refuse to acknowledge the drop in infections in places like Manchester and Newcastle under the old Tier 2 rules. They do not even attempt to justify the plan to require meals to be served with drinks. This policy alone will lead to the unnecessary closure of thousands of ‘wet pubs’ and other licensed venues, such as snooker halls and casinos. Businesses which could be operating safely will be forced to furlough their workforce and accept government grants to stand idle. Who benefits from such wilful destruction?”
Notes to Editors
For media enquiries, contact Emily Carver, Head of Media, 07715 942731, ecarver@iea.org.uk
Christopher Snowdon is available for further comment.
Pubs and Covid-19: Flawed Claims and Faulty Reasoning is available to download from the IEA website here: https://iea.org.uk/publications/pubs-and-covid-19-flawed-claims-and-faulty-reasoning/
The mission of the Institute of Economic Affairs is to improve understanding of the fundamental institutions of a free society by analysing and expounding the role of markets in solving economic and social problems. The IEA is a registered educational charity and independent of all political parties.
