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Pub bans under-25s for ‘refusing to adhere to any social distancing rules’

Jimmy Nsubuga
Updated ·2-min read
The Royal Standard in Wallingford, in Oxfordshire (Picture: Facebook)
The Royal Standard in Wallingford, in Oxfordshire. (Facebook)

A pub has banned drinkers aged under 25 for “refusing to adhere to any social distancing rules”.

Pubs and restaurants were allowed to reopen on “Super Saturday” when lockdown restrictions were lifted, but pictures from around the country showed some people were getting too close to each other.

The Royal Standard in Wallingford, Oxfordshire, has now decided things will run much smoother if younger people are not allowed to enter after 8pm.

Landlord David Haines said he had been forced to ban under-25s because they arrived in an "unprecedented number" and placed older customers and staff at risk.

He told the BBC: “They start off fine but then it goes out the window.”

A car tries to drive along a street filled with revellers drinking in the Soho area of London on July 4, 2020, after the police re-opened the road at 2300 as restrictions are further eased during the novel coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. - Pubs in England reopen on Saturday for the first time since late March, bringing cheer to drinkers and the industry but fears of public disorder and fresh coronavirus cases. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP) (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
The scenes in Soho, London, on Saturday. (Getty Images)

Haines added: “In spite of how many times you ask them to sit in groups of six, it goes out the window. It was impossible to control.

“We've got a greater duty to our customers and our staff.

“We apologise to those of you who are affected and we will review this decision periodically.”

The landlord said staff were having trouble getting young people to follow safety procedures, including sitting at least a metre away on tables inside.

A police officer watches on from an elevated position as revellers drink in the street outside the bars in the Soho area of London on July 4, 2020, as restrictions are further eased during the novel coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. - Pubs in England reopen on Saturday for the first time since late March, bringing cheer to drinkers and the industry but fears of public disorder and fresh coronavirus cases. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP) (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
A police officer watches on from an elevated position as revellers drink outside bars in Soho. (Getty Images)

Facebook users praised Haines when he posted the ban on Tuesday, with one person thanking him for taking a stand.

John Apter, chairman of the Police Federation, was on duty in Southampton on Saturday and said it was “crystal clear” drinkers had not kept to social distancing rules.

Despite footage and pictures showing crowds gathering, police said most people were well-behaved.

Boris Johnson had warned on Friday the country was not out of the woods yet and he would not hesitate “putting on the brakes and re-imposing restrictions” in event of an outbreak.

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