Recognizing a need for cooperation, Idaho's food and beverages forms FARE Idaho, to reassure customers of safe practices.
image courtesy FARE Idaho
Press Release
FARE Idaho is a new non-profit working to connect, align, and promote the shared interests of Idaho’s independent restaurants and other small food and beverage businesses. In furtherance of this mission, we have launched the ‘Dine & Drink Safe’ Business Health Pledge. This campaign will provide guests of our retail food and beverage businesses a directory of businesses willing to commit to a set of actions we believe work to protect industry staff and the community at large.
Our restaurants, tasting rooms, cafes, and bars are fighting for survival. In order to prevail, we must regain/hold the trust of our patrons. Many in our community are reluctant to go out to dine and drink, and we don’t blame them given the current public health crisis and actions taken by some in our industry that have compounded those issues. The problem is that many of us are working to create safe environments for guests and while prioritizing staff health. The reality is that we need guests to support us or we won’t survive the winter, and they won’t support us if they do not feel safe in our establishments. This Dine & Drink Safe Business Health Pledge moves beyond open-ended guidelines that were well-intended but have left far too many important details open to interpretation. This pledge locks down several areas of key concern. A few examples of the actions those who take this pledge promise to end during this time include:
No consumption of food and/or beverage after 11pm, businesses will close by 11:30pm.
Consumption of food and/or beverage will be restricted to seated guests.
Each member of our team will complete a daily wellness screening.
We will space our tables 6’ apart.
We will be transparent with the community if a member of our team tests positive.
The logic behind these activities is to minimize the spread of respiratory droplets and to reduce viral load in the case of exposures. For instance, after 11pm, most of the activity is consumption of alcohol and standing while consuming which inevitably promotes close contact.. Our industry has an opportunity and obligation to implement meaningful and effective changes in support of those who seek to Dine & Drink Safe.
We believe businesses willing to prioritize staff and guest health during this time of COVID-19 deserve tangible community support. This voluntary pledge asks a great deal of food and beverage establishments, and in return we hope to build needed support in our community for their good actions. Check our website or look for this logo in your community to be assured which local restaurants, bars and other retail food & beverage businesses have taken the pledge, and know you are in good hands when you support these local businesses.
The language of our ‘Dine and Drink Safe Pledge’ is attached, and you can view it on our website: www.fareidaho.org/health-promise.
