Opinion: Businesses and customers are selfish if they don't look out for one another during this pandemic.

Warning, the following article is unfiltered and contains a few pieces of profanity. As someone who grew up in a military household, complemented with a diet of 80s action films, the language is as naturally spoken as breathing. However, I apologize in advance if the language offends anyone. Reader advised.

As someone over the age of 40, I remember what it was like to be a “latchkey kid”. 

But I also recognize there are circumstances out of my control, namely the ongoing threat of a virus. Which is why I’m still staying home, getting my beer to-go while maintaining my distance for the safety of others and myself. Unfortunately, some of you both in front of and behind the bar are eager to get back to “the way things were”, which will lead to rash decisions. For those who would trade safety for lunacy, I have the following to say - don’t!

As a news-based website, I limit the instances where I inject myself into the story. The focus should be, always, on the subject and never the writer. However, like so many of you I am affected by the mandates by the CDC and state, county, and city health officials. I am taking this opportunity to let you know I am a part of this story. That story happens to me when I walk into a bar, a restaurant, or taproom. And given some of what I’ve seen (lack of employee-supplied PPE, lack of hand sanitizer, etc.) I feel it’s’ time to tell you what I expect to see when I finally come out to support your business or share the same breath (behind a mask), if I sit next to you at a nearby table or seat. 

If anything I say angers you, then take stock and ask yourself why you’re angry. If this is in any way inspired by the truth - that you lack preparedness, or willingness to protect others - then I say this, stay closed. Don’t reopen if you will not protect every man, woman, child, and pet in your care. Be ready to accept the consequences of telling someone, who doesn’t wish to wear a mask, to go home. Be prepared to cancel someone’s tab and send them packing, if they wander without protection. Because if you put dollars over humanity, you don’t deserve my support when this is all over. 

And to you, the man, woman, spouse, or partner; who wishes to escape quarantine, I say to you - wear a mask and wash your hands. If you can’t wear a mask, stay home! If you can’t wash your hands after touching your face or objects - stay home! I don’t care that you’ve been cooped up for weeks. I don’t care what the non-scientists have told you. This shit is real and it will kill and it’s already killed over 100,000 people in this country alone. Don’t be selfish, don’t be self-righteous, and don’t be an asshole if a business tells you to leave or go elsewhere because you don’t believe in wearing masks. I won’t risk your health, which is why I wear a mask, and wash my hands; so don’t risk mine. Stay home if you can’t abide by the rules. 

With that all said, here what I expect of you be you business or customer. Let’s break it down, shall we?

Breweries, Restaurants, Public Houses, and Bars. 

Don’t… forget there are limits to occupancy.

Depending on your state and county, you might be in Phase 1 - Phase 4. For those granted partial restoration of seating, this still means every person (not in a group) should maintain six-feet of distance between one another. 

This also means it is your responsibility to account for every person who enters and exits your taproom. This means not sacrificing health and safety to recover lost income. This also means being mindful of your neighbors by imploring anxious guests waiting outside for a table, reminding them of safe social-distancing (e.g. 6-feet apart) and to wear masks. It also means you only allow as many guests as you can account for, to remind guests to wear face masks when not at a table and absorbing the pain that comes with an unhappy, non-compliant customer.

Don’t… forget to wipe down tables, chairs, and other surfaces.

Not so long ago, it was common to walk into a restaurant or bar and see an open table or seat by observing the room before sitting down. As a side-effect of this approach to self-assigned seating, it wasn’t uncommon to notice the table or countertop had left over stains from the prior guest/guests. As was customary, one would request the bartender or server clean the surface of the table prior to starting service. Today, this will not be an acceptable practice. 

Instead, you need to ensure that all chairs, tables, countertops, and common areas are wiped down regularly. This means someone should be assigned to the sole task of monitoring the room and whenever possible wiping down surfaces. Don’t get complacent and assume someone will do this. Assign someone to keep the area clean.  I won’t tolerate it when I finally come out, if I am waiting at a table that still needs to be clean.

Don’t... cut corners with your staff’s health and safety.

It’s a fact that hand washing and N95 masks reduce the transmission of COVID-19. I have studied this from the media and government agencies, like the Centers for Disease Control or state and county departments of health. Based on the science, the alternative to hand washing and N95 masks has been the use of hand sanitizer and improvised masks (e.g. manufactured cloth masks). However, it is tantamount that you ensure your employees can wash their hands and protect their mouths and nose at all times. This means providing masks, plenty of soap, hand sanitizer, and requiring them to use these.

This also means supporting your employees’ unwillingness to come into work sick, or because you failed to provide proper equipment. If I see or find out you have failed to support your staff, you won’t hear from me again. I recognize this might seem unfair but so is sacrificing your staff and the public health because the lure of recovering several months of income is tantalizing.

Don’t...allow employees and guests to work or dine without masks and keep six-feet of distance apart.

As some of you shifted away from dine-in to takeout, I saw some businesses not wearing masks or providing hand sanitizer for guests. While N95 masks, hand sanitizer, and sanitizing wipes were in outrageous demand, some of you instead failed to wear something as simple as a bandanna or shirt around your face. As you move toward a reopening, you must ensure your employees wear masks at all times and that guests are reminded to wear masks. I recognize it will be difficult to weigh customer service against repeat business but it is vital you focus on the safety of all your guests and not sacrifice that for someone’s inconvenience. 

Don’t… abandon takeout (or delivery).

A few weeks into individual state mandates, many of you migrated to a business model which supported ordering food and beverage over the phone or online, for takeout or delivery. As one of those who appreciated the ability to recover my beer or food, I will support those who still offer takeout and (yes) delivery. Already, I am seeing businesses pivot away from delivery and instances of reduced support of takeout. Let me be clear, the virus hasn’t abated; it is still present and healthy individuals like myself will not be visiting your business until I know it is safe to do so. 

This means if given the option between delivery or physically visiting for takeout, I will support the delivery option first, followed by those businesses which provide a near-contactless takeout experience. This means that any takeout option, which requires me to stand in the same line as your guests, will be avoided. In the past, I have arrived prepared to enter a business with a face mask on and with personal hand sanitizer. However, I have seen several businesses scale back their commitments to deliver or curbside takeout. Because of this I will more than likely not be supporting your business. 

I recognize that your businesses have suffered financially. But to eliminate a convenient option for those unwilling to dine at your businesses, ignores those who supported your takeout or delivery options, when you had no other choice. Sorry, but nothing has changed other than the number of people infected has gone down.

Don’t… forget to be patient with your customers, not everyone will comply with health guidance, not everyone will be patient, not everyone will look out for another.

As a business owner or employee, this will be a trying time for you, your friends, your family, and those who come to support your business. Try… to avoid losing your temper. Try… to remain patient. Try… to understand each customer’s approach to COVID-19 will not be onboard with your charge as host. If you do this, both your customers, both loyal and newly indoctrinated,  will see this will equally restrain the temptation to lose their emotions. 

Customers

Don’t… tolerate inconsiderate staff, management, or ownership.

There are many businesses that have been impacted financially by the regions Governors’ stay at home orders. With the reopening, many businesses will be tested by supporting the health of staff and guests over profit. Some businesses cannot provide staff with face masks, hand sanitizer, or enforce stringent cleaning. If you see this, walk away, don’t overlook it just walk away. Any business that doesn’t provide its staff with protection will ultimately lead to guests also not being protected. A healthy space starts with the business and should never be tolerated when masks and disinfectant is missing.

Any staff that doesn’t show a consideration for health by failing to clean surfaces after use, to wash hands whenever they bus a table, refill a growler, or handle money, is another example of someone not thinking of your safety. You should never trade your health for a pint or plate of food at a business. Just pay the check, wash your hands literally, and return when the state has been given businesses the “all clear”. 

Don’t… arrive without a plan to protect yourself and others. 

I know you’ve been cooped up without your friends, your family, and the comforts of a beer-filled glass in your hand. But this doesn’t exclude the fact that the virus is still a genuine threat. This means showing up expecting to wear a mask while in line, whether while waiting for a beer, to use the bathroom, or to be confirmed for a seat. 

If you have children, this is not the time to bring your children and allow them to roam freely throughout the restaurant, public house, or taproom. If you cannot find a babysitter and you cannot yourself supervise your children, stay home. I know you need a vacation from quarantine but you cannot minimize the spread of this virus, if you only take care of yourself and not what or who your child comes into contact with.

Also, do not argue with the staff if they ask you to mask up when you’re not at a table. They already have concerns about individual sentiments turning negative because they looked out for you and the rest of the public, while infringing on your personal feelings. If you are incapable of following the rules, stay home. Anyone at least 21 can remember the old business adage, “No Shoes, No Shirt, No Service” to which we add this paraphrase “No Mask, No Patience, No Service.”

All

Don’t… forget everyone wants things back to normal.

Despite what you think, people are emotional, people are desperate, and above all people want normalcy in their lives. You are not the only want who wants to see their friends, extended family, or favorite customers. You are not the only one wearing an apron or your anxiety on your shoulders. So be patient, be healthy, and look out for one another. 

We’ll get through this together but only if we work together.