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A FIFTH OF people (21.3%) say they feel “very uncomfortable” about the idea of going back to the pub, even with two-metre social distancing measures in place.
That figure rises to 40% when closer social distancing of one metre is considered.
The findings are part of a survey by the Central Statistics Office on the social impact of Covid-19.
Pubs and bars are set to reopen as restaurants in Ireland on Monday after being closed since March.
The survey looks at how comfortable people feel about certain activities as restrictions are eased.
With hairdressers and barbers also set to reopen on Monday, almost half of women (47.3%) reported feeling “comfortable” or “very comfortable” with the prospect of going to a salon, compared to one in three (34.9%) men.
Four in five (82.0%) of those surveyed said they would feel “uncomfortable” or “very uncomfortable” attending a large outdoor event with no social distancing, while almost half (47.6%) of respondents have similar feelings about attending a religious service with social distancing.
The survey found almost three in five people (57.0%) report feeling “uncomfortable” or “very uncomfortable” with sending their child to childcare or a creche, which reopen on Monday.
CSO statistician Brian Cahill said while many respondents are worried about going to a pub, people are significantly more comfortable with the prospect of eating in a restaurant.
“In June just over one in five respondents (21.3%) report feeling ‘very uncomfortable’ with the prospect of going to a pub or bar with two metres social distancing. This almost doubles to 39.5% when social distancing is reduced from two metres to one metre.
“Respondents express less concern with the prospect of going to a restaurant, with 12.9% indicating they would feel ‘very uncomfortable’ with two metres social distancing and 28.7% with one-metre social distancing.”
The CSO survey was carried out between June 10 and June 17 and was based on a sample of 5,566 people.
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I love my local pub. It’s a good clean shop, I miss it and I’d love to support them but I have to admit I won’t be rushing back. It’s difficult to imagine how it’s going to work and if it’s going to be worth it. Best thing about a pub is the atmosphere but you need people to create that.
@2thFairy: going ta the pub is going ta be terrible for a while but it can only get better
@2thFairy: Chairs spaced out in the street like the continent.
@2thFairy: for sure. Part of the ub experience is meeting people, chatting etc. Not much point going in for a rushed meal and a few pints. Think I will wait until it returns to somewhat near normal
@Paul: So many people have so used to not going that it is going to be difficult to want to spend money in pubs. The few cans from off licence is so much cheaper, and one or two is enough at home. Many won’t bother going back.
A fifth? That’s just the once-a-year mob who blunder their way into the pubs every December. I hope their discomfort keeps them away for the rest of the year so the rest of us can get a quiet pint without listening to “What will you have?” “What have they got?” “Where will we sit? “I’ll get it.” “No, I’ll get it.” every couple of minutes.
@Col de Gal: They call one drink at a time for a group of twenty and get shirty with the staff when they tell them to get the round together and get back to them.
@Col de Gal: Nail on head right there
@Col de Gal: Better known as the Holly and Ivy Brigade. See them at Xmas … and that’s it. The sort who’ll ask you ( the barman)” what would you recommend?” A taxi , is the usual reply
Then dont go to pub if your not comfortable no one is being forced to go
@John Moloney: They wont but how will bars survive without 40% of their previous business?
@Rochelle: hard to say they where struggling before the lockdown we could see a lot of pubs closing
@John Moloney: many pubs were doing just fine it would be the exception to have one suffering beforehand. Yes the villages that depopulated have been struggling but they aren’t where the majority of pubs are
@Rochelle: you’re assuming that the 40% would have been regular pubgoers prior to the pandemic. That’s a pretty big leap..
@Rochelle: the few true followers will just have to drink more to make up the short fall.
Pubs won’t be what they ever were before until a vaccine is found. The days of matches all day on TVs and pumping live music are gone and the novelty of returning to a bar will eventually wear off. With many discovering how cost effective drinking at home is, especially outdoors in fine weather, it’s a long road ahead for many bars and a big chunk I feel will hit the wall come the years end.
@Gavin Mckenna: Imagine trying to get into a nightclub with bouncers checking your temperature. Comical.
@Gavin Mckenna: haven’t seen any bar prices ,, put up by pubs ,,,, customers will have to pay ,,,
@Gavin Mckenna: good man Gavin you let us know how you are getting on sipping your cans of Galahad in the garden in November there sound likes great craic. While you are at it fire on the winning lottery numbers for Saturday nights draw. Another tulip who can read the future……..
@Gavin Mckenna: no they aren’t, July 25th final phase, night clubs and all pubs Opening if no change, in back djing in the the bars and club I play in as and from then unless it’s stated that nightclubs won’t reopen as part of the final phase. The pubs will be full of 20-30+ year olds, trust me on that
Uncomfortable with how cràp it’s going to be. It’s all or nothing for me – indeed for their very survival I think it has to be.
@Hup Abù: if you go to a pub you should have to isolate there for 2 weeks in my opinion
A lot of pubs and business could file legal proceedings based on the science that contradicts the restrictive measures announced.
Cant see them going down without a fight.
@Vladimir Macro: they wouldn’t have a chance of winning. If they did they would also annoy a lot of their customers. I would never go to a pub involved in such a case. Profits over customers health and medical advice. The counter medical claims are vested groups. I understand why people would do this seeing their businesses suffering but health is more important.
@Craic_a_tower: I can see likes of nightclubs putting something together as most young people are largely unaffected.
I’m not suggesting who will win or lose I’m saying the measures announced are being questioned by Nobel prize winning scientists which go against the mainstream narrative and I know some of these scientists are advising business currently.
@Vladimir Macro: nightclubs rely on a legal request to have extended hours. The gardai can simply not issue them and they cannot open. All legal and easy. You can always find differing views in science and a Nobel prize doesn’t actually mean you know better than everyone else. It means you made a discovery or did something. You are not just one thing
I might sit outside in a beer garden and use a disposable glass (biodegradable of course). I meet friends now for takeaway coffee and sit in a park. Depends how risk adverse you are or need to be. Different for everyone I guess.
If uncomfortable, it’s simple DONT GO! Like ffs!
@Pád: Exactly. Stay the flock at home if you don’t like it!!
Good. There is not enough space for everyone
I reckon that 5th wouldn’t go to the pub normally!
Ome fith are uncomfortable which 80% are comfortable….. well that’s positive isnt it ?
it’s not compulsory to go to the Pub , one only goes there if you so wish. Don’t feel comfortable there — don’t go. That way , there will be more room for likes of me.
It’s very easy so….stay at home and don’t put yourself at risk
Don’t go if you feel uncomfortable, people survived this long with out a pub, we can go a bit longer.
It just sounds like no craic. That’s not an endorsement of fully reopening them without restrictions but the reason I’d avoid for a while anyway.
Some people didn’t feel comfortable in a pub pre COVID so not much has changed really. They’d rather be in a hairdressers anyway and I doubt they’d be thinking of distancing then
That’s okay, that fifth can stay at home, more room for the rest of us.
So 4 out of 5 are happy to go to the pub?
@Claude Saulnier: yes.
A lot of pubs will be finished
i feel like a jackdaw in the desert give a little it helps alot gasping
All it will take, is for an outbreak similar to the club outbreak in Asia (South Korea I think?) after they reopened, where 1 guy infected hundreds. If that happens here, it will be the end of pubs for many months more. Publicans need to ensure they run a tight ship and not get greedy or sloppy.
That means four fiths or Most People!! Are Comfortable about going to the pub
I would rather see schools and childminders open- my understanding is that children are less likely to spread it than adults anyway. We can live without pubs.
have your say