Irresponsible or 'genius': Pub’s cheeky lockdown loophole sparks debate
As the UK is thrust back into strict lockdown as coronavirus cases soar, one pub has sparked debate with a cheeky loophole for people to order takeaway drinks.
In the grips of a second wave, the UK on Tuesday reported 532 deaths – the highest in six months – while more than 20,000 people tested positive.
As businesses are struggling to survive, one pub in London hit out at “ridiculous” lockdown laws making the job harder for hospitality workers.
With pubs and restaurants forced to stay closed until December 2, the government said customers could still buy drinks as long as they were pre-ordered.
As people aren’t so prepared to ring ahead and order a beer, the Red Lion and Sun pub has found a loophole to target those who want a spontaneous beverage.
A video posted to Twitter shows a phone set up next to hand sanitiser and a sign that says, “you can order drinks via this phone”, outside the pub’s takeaway window.
In a cheeky caption on the video, the pub said: “Don’t forget to pre-order your drinks.”
With many applauding the pub for its genius order system, others have raised concerns about how sanitary the idea is.
“I like the pack of disinfectant wipes near the phone. I wonder if anyone actually uses them,” one questioned.
“It’s a virus so anti-bacterial wipes won’t do a thing.”
“Struggling to see how the phone is covid-friendly,” another commented.
“If you’re vulnerable I’d steer well clear,” a third added.
Don’t forget to pre-order your drinks. pic.twitter.com/o5YoTloObV
— Red Lion and Sun (@redlionandsun) November 8, 2020
Others however dubbed it a “genius idea”.
“Love it,” one said.
“Nice one, well done,” another commented with clapping hand emojis.
Red Lion and Sun manager Health Ball told Metro.co.uk the pub set up the phone to “take the piss” out of the government’s “ridiculous” lockdown rules.
“This is a laugh. This makes no sense. You can go to the supermarket and the corner shop to buy beers but they’re tell us that customers have to pre-order,” he said.
“All it’s done is give us more work to do. We have all these people out front trying to ring the phone. We had a telephone line and a WhatsApp but it was still a mess.
“So I just ordered a couple of phones off Amazon, got a lead to join the two together and thought, ‘there you go. I’m complying with the law’.”
He added the idea was purely tongue in cheek “to show how ridiculous it is”.
Mr Ball said those concerned about using the phone could still call off their personal devices.
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