New 4-tier system for England

[ChrisC]

Surely a lot of them are doing that anyway? My parents have done very little in terms of interraction with other people since late March. They get most of their shopping delivered. They'd be very unlucky to get infected.

I think you are right. Most of the elderly and vulnerable people that I know have been very sensible and have tried to keep themselves safe. I know that there are some who are not.

My 85 year old mother has not been into any shop, except from a couple of visits to a garden centre, since the end of February. She’s also not been out for a meal or visited any busy places but she has kept active by walking in the country and gardening. I was speaking to a 95 year old lady in my village, who hasn’t been out of the village since March, and even at her age before Covid she went into the nearby town once a week by bus. They are not terrified and locking themselves inside their houses, but they are being sensible. People being sensible like this would be very unlucky to get the virus.

 

[Gaz55]

We've managed to avoid tier 4 in Yorkshire for now, but I wouldn't want to put money on it staying that way come the next review date.

 

[island]

The locktivists on my Facebook feed are thrilled, but some are demanding school reopening be deferred until February.

 

[Mugby]

When the November lockdown started, we were told specifically what the end date would be. Now with the latest near universal imposition of Tier 4 (a euphemism for lockdown) I havn't heard an end date mentioned. Is it an open ended thing? Boris had said something about things should be much better by April, could it really last that long?

 

[Jamesrob637]

We should apply Tier 4 restrictions every year going forward.

For one day only - Boxing Day. Only way to shut non-essential shops these days it seems.

Sad. Unless they all jump on this year's bandwagon, which I highly doubt. Kudos to John Lewis and the others who did the decent thing and remained closed.

Edit: possibly New Year's Day too though fewer people seem to make a fuss about shops being open then. Maybe it's because train and bus services run in most parts, and opening hours are very reduced.

 

[initiation]

When the November lockdown started, we were told specifically what the end date would be. Now with the latest near universal imposition of Tier 4 (a euphemism for lockdown) I havn't heard an end date mentioned. Is it an open ended thing? Boris had said something about things should be much better by April, could it really last that long?

I haven't heard a specific date mentioned for the end of tier 4 however any extension of the tier restrictions are subject to a parliamentary vote on the 27th January.

The whole situation is utterly deplorable from the government.

 

[bramling]

When the November lockdown started, we were told specifically what the end date would be. Now with the latest near universal imposition of Tier 4 (a euphemism for lockdown) I havn't heard an end date mentioned. Is it an open ended thing? Boris had said something about things should be much better by April, could it really last that long?

Yes I think it could, especially if we end up with a situation where the schools end up essentially closed for the entire Spring term (I know the government claim to be dead against that, but they were against closing schools before and yet we end up with a complete term of closure).

The trouble is that Boris has managed to manufacture a situation where for a significant number of people the positives of all this outweigh the negatives, or at least *seem* to do so. They are prepared to manage without a trip to the theatre or do their shopping online if it means they don’t have to get up to commute in by train every morning. Many of the restrictions aren’t an issue for people as they’ve clocked on to the fact that there is no practical enforcement.

Sadly when these sorts of people wake up to the wider and long-term damage that this narrow-minded attitude has done, it will be too late.

 

[Kite159]

I wonder how much food/drink will get wasted from pubs in former tier 2 areas due to being forced to close at a few hours notice.

 

[infobleep]

I wonder how much food/drink will get wasted from pubs in former tier 2 areas due to being forced to close at a few hours notice.

I guess it depends on whether they can do take aways and licencing restrictions for selling booze off site.

 

[Bantamzen]

I guess it depends on whether they can do take aways and licencing restrictions for selling booze off site.

I've been fascinated about this idea of takeaways / delivery services for businesses that are primarily based on customers on premises. A few cafes & restaurants in my area have successfully developed delivery services where they previously did not have them, most notably a local fish & chip takeaway. However beyond these many cafes, and certainly all pubs that have tried pickup / delivery services (and there are not many) have largely given up & understandably so. For example a couple of local pubs to me set up "click & collect" services back in late March, but lasted little more than a few weeks as the local Co-op is literally a minutes walk away from both. Why would people spend more on takeout beer when the shop is right there (and probably where they would park). Yes maybe more should have tried to support the pubs, but in reality with so many people taking a pay cut, buying cheaper booze is really a no-brainer.

The government seem to have relied rather heavily on these kind of strategies, but I wonder if they have a clue just how few businesses can actually make them work? I guess they'll find out at the end of March.

 

[Envy123]

One of my favourite takeaways specifically built a delivery service “temporarily” as long as the pandemic is still happening. I hope that will be a permanent change and they will continue deliveries beyond that.

 

[island]

When the November lockdown started, we were told specifically what the end date would be. Now with the latest near universal imposition of Tier 4 (a euphemism for lockdown) I havn't heard an end date mentioned. Is it an open ended thing? Boris had said something about things should be much better by April, could it really last that long?

The tier restrictions expire on 02•FBY•21 unless extended in the intervening period.

 

[DustyBin]

I've been fascinated about this idea of takeaways / delivery services for businesses that are primarily based on customers on premises. A few cafes & restaurants in my area have successfully developed delivery services where they previously did not have them, most notably a local fish & chip takeaway. However beyond these many cafes, and certainly all pubs that have tried pickup / delivery services (and there are not many) have largely given up & understandably so. For example a couple of local pubs to me set up "click & collect" services back in late March, but lasted little more than a few weeks as the local Co-op is literally a minutes walk away from both. Why would people spend more on takeout beer when the shop is right there (and probably where they would park). Yes maybe more should have tried to support the pubs, but in reality with so many people taking a pay cut, buying cheaper booze is really a no-brainer.

The government seem to have relied rather heavily on these kind of strategies, but I wonder if they have a clue just how few businesses can actually make them work? I guess they'll find out at the end of March.

In regard to pubs it’s very difficult as you say. Some have built up a decent trade in takeaway food but drink is another matter. Either way it isn’t sustainable, they’re hospitality venues not takeaways and can’t survive like this for much longer, and neither can their breweries/pubcos where applicable.

 

[Mojo]

In regard to pubs it’s very difficult as you say. Some have built up a decent trade in takeaway food but drink is another matter. Either way it isn’t sustainable, they’re hospitality venues not takeaways and can’t survive like this for much longer, and neither can there breweries/pubcos where applicable.

In the summer it was quite common to see people getting beer take-a-way and then drinking it nearby (often right outside), but I can’t quite imagine there is as much demand at the moment given how cold it is.

 

[DustyBin]

In the summer it was quite common to see people getting beer take-a-way and then drinking it nearby (often right outside), but I can’t quite imagine there is as much demand at the moment given how cold it is.

No it’s not the weather for it and in some areas at least, pubs where this was happening got a telling off by the police or EHO. Some EHOs have been sensible and dare I say it actually supportive(!), but some have enjoyed their new found powers a little too much. If people want to buy five pints of Peroni and then sit in the park in a group of twenty that’s not the pubs fault really is it? Even if they’re sat outside but not on the premises there’s not much the pub staff can do other than refuse to serve them, but when you’re business is being strangled by restrictions on trade that’s a difficult thing to do!

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

I haven't heard a specific date mentioned for the end of tier 4 however any extension of the tier restrictions are subject to a parliamentary vote on the 27th January.

The whole situation is utterly deplorable from the government.

Whats deplorable is they said it would be governed by a range of criteria and even areas that have met the criteria and have "worked together as a community to lower cases" as Hancock asked them to aren't rewarded the rules are just changed. Even worse is the spineless MPs who say nothing despite they are being walked over by ministers and reducing the house of commons to an expensive talking shop.

The tier restrictions expire on 02•FBY•21 unless extended in the intervening period.

They will be extended as labour/liberals will vote for it and the majority of tories just do as they are told even the so called CRG mob have dissipated now they've got BREXIT sorted they can just go back to protecting there own wealth.

In the summer it was quite common to see people getting beer take-a-way and then drinking it nearby (often right outside), but I can’t quite imagine there is as much demand at the moment given how cold it is.

Theres a pub round here thats doing a reasonable trade on nice days but im not so sure that selling in plastic glasses is strictly within the terms of takeaways and as they then sit on the village green benches I suspect they are at risk of being closed down as they are technically inciting gatherings.

 

[greyman42]

I think you are right. Most of the elderly and vulnerable people that I know have been very sensible and have tried to keep themselves safe. I know that there are some who are not.

My 85 year old mother has not been into any shop, except from a couple of visits to a garden centre, since the end of February. She’s also not been out for a meal or visited any busy places but she has kept active by walking in the country and gardening. I was speaking to a 95 year old lady in my village, who hasn’t been out of the village since March, and even at her age before Covid she went into the nearby town once a week by bus. They are not terrified and locking themselves inside their houses, but they are being sensible. People being sensible like this would be very unlucky to get the virus.

That's fine for those who led that sort of lifestyle prior to covid but for those who were a lot more social, for example; going to the pub for a bit of company, i know some of these people are left suicidal by lockdowns.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 31 Dec 2020 ==

Sadly when these sorts of people wake up to the wider and long-term damage that this narrow-minded attitude has done, it will be too late.

How very true.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 31 Dec 2020 ==

I guess it depends on whether they can do take aways and licencing restrictions for selling booze off site.

Why would people buy booze to takeaway from a pub when it's cheaper from the supermarket?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 31 Dec 2020 ==

In the summer it was quite common to see people getting beer take-a-way and then drinking it nearby (often right outside), but I can’t quite imagine there is as much demand at the moment given how cold it is.

And then nipping down the nearest alley to use it as a toilet.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 31 Dec 2020 ==

Theres a pub round here thats doing a reasonable trade on nice days but im not so sure that selling in plastic glasses is strictly within the terms of takeaways and as they then sit on the village green benches I suspect they are at risk of being closed down as they are technically inciting gatherings.

Nice days on village green benches? It is absolutely freezing at the moment.

 

[317666]

Why would people buy booze to takeaway from a pub when it's cheaper from the supermarket?

Depends on what you drink - I find that real ale is much nicer fresh from the barrel at a pub (including poured into a bottle for me to take away and drink at home) than bottled/canned from a supermarket. Besides, people might want to support their local pubs in what are very hard times for them. I certainly try to!

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

Nice days on village green benches? It is absolutely freezing at the moment.

Yup and they are wrapped but they are enjoying a beer and some social company as best they can and as I say theres no shortage of people wishing to participate. This is place that spent a fair few quid building out an outside setup as decreed by govt, invested in extra staff for tables service diligently took down peoples details abided by the 10PM very firmly and nett outcome is they are being sacrificed without any recognition from govt who just spout how Sunak has done more than any other chancellor (to protect his rich mates) to support business.

Depends on what you drink - I find that real ale is much nicer fresh from the barrel at a pub (including poured into a bottle for me to take away and drink at home) than bottled/canned from a supermarket. Besides, people might want to support their local pubs in what are very hard times for them. I certainly try to!

Absolutely and I have been supporting my local brewery for the last 9 months with takeaways but not everyone has the luxury of a brewery in there town anymore but at least many supermarkets are stocking beer from the smaller breweries these days and thats what should be bought if at all possible as many of these are struggling.

 

[Bantamzen]

Depends on what you drink - I find that real ale is much nicer fresh from the barrel at a pub (including poured into a bottle for me to take away and drink at home) than bottled/canned from a supermarket. Besides, people might want to support their local pubs in what are very hard times for them. I certainly try to!

But remember, pubs selling takeout cask ale ale need to try and anticipate how much & how quickly they might sell it. If they don't know this it gets very difficult, very quickly to work out how much stock to buy without having to literally pour money down the drain. This is why most simply don't bother.

 

[david1212]

I wonder how much food/drink will get wasted from pubs in former tier 2 areas due to being forced to close at a few hours notice.

Particularly if they had bookings for ' Substantial Meals ' today and tomorrow so purchased accordingly. This is another example of why the Tier changes should not have been until 4th January. I wonder if for at least a few this will be the straw that breaks the camels back.

 

[Kite159]

Particularly if they had bookings for ' Substantial Meals ' today and tomorrow so purchased accordingly. This is another example of why the Tier changes should not have been until 4th January. I wonder if for at least a few this will be the straw that breaks the camels back.

You would hope some would have been sensible when ordering food for any bookings made for this long weekend and tried to order as much frozen as possible rather than fresh.

 

[island]

Particularly if they had bookings for ' Substantial Meals ' today and tomorrow so purchased accordingly. This is another example of why the Tier changes should not have been until 4th January. I wonder if for at least a few this will be the straw that breaks the camels back.

I can see both sides. Had the changes taken effect any later there would have been masses of people going out for a ”last night out”, particularly with it being New Year’s Eve.

 

[DustyBin]

Particularly if they had bookings for ' Substantial Meals ' today and tomorrow so purchased accordingly. This is another example of why the Tier changes should not have been until 4th January. I wonder if for at least a few this will be the straw that breaks the camels back.

Hospitality has been completely shafted again. Everything the government told us regarding what would happen between Christmas and New Year has turned out to be wrong. It honestly feels like they’re having a laugh at the industry’s (considerable) expense.

I can see both sides. Had the changes taken effect any later there would have been masses of people going out for a ”last night out”, particularly with it being New Year’s Eve.

Remember though even in tier 2 you could only order a drink with a substantial meal. It wouldn’t have been a typical New Year’s Eve atmosphere, people would have been seated at (socially distanced) tables. Instead many will have gone to each other’s houses. I do understand where you’re coming from but in reality I don’t think there would have been an issue.

 

[Jamesrob637]

Remember though even in tier 2 you could only order a drink with a substantial meal. It wouldn’t have been a typical New Year’s Eve atmosphere, people would have been seated at (socially distanced) tables. Instead many will have gone to each other’s houses. I do understand where you’re coming from but in reality I don’t think there would have been an issue.

Even more importantly, pubs in even Tier 1 had to stop serving by 22:00 and the last patrons be gone by 23:00.

 

[DustyBin]

Even more importantly, pubs in even Tier 1 had to stop serving by 22:00 and the last patrons be gone by 23:00.

Yes that’s a good point as well!

 

[Jamesrob637]

Next review on the 13th IF there is no national lockdown in the intervening period.

 

[The Prisoner]

With new restrictions all but inevitable I've given some thought as to how they may look:

Tier 4 - Stay at home
Tier 5 - Stay at home and do not leave the bedroom between the hours of 1800 and 0900
Tier 6 - No talking
Tier 7 - Do not look at each other
Tier 8 - Entire population of Great Manchester shipped to the Ascension Islands
Tier 9 - Repeats of Mrs Brown's Boys to be piped into all outside spaces during non-curfew hours
Tier 10 - Walkers' Chocolate and Chilli flavour special edition crisps to be rereleased and made mandatory rationing
Tier 11 - Teams of redundant hospitality workers will be tasked with standing outside your house and making that noise that polystyrene makes when you rub it

 

[Ianno87]

Tier 7 - Do not look at each other

So has London always been in Tier 7 then?

 

[Cowley]

So has London always been in Tier 7 then?

It’s Tier 9 I’m most worried about.