It has been a long, hot summer. And when it comes to beating the heat, there are few things better than enjoying a cold drink with friends at your local bar. Unfortunately, most of our summer plans have been put on hold thanks to the ongoing pandemic. Staying home whenever possible, avoiding gatherings of people, and following the appropriate sanitation guidelines are all vital to protecting as many people as possible within our communities. However, not everyone has that choice. That’s why we have this guide to COVID-19 and bar safety.
If you own or work in a bar, the situation is infinitely more complicated. You have to maintain your income stream and manage your business in a way that prioritizes safety. In a venue where alcohol and good spirits tend to make people forget about safety guidelines, keeping a balance between supporting your livelihood and protecting your customers can be difficult. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to encourage safe behavior at your establishment in order to keep your customers and your employees healthy.
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Move Your Operation Outdoors
If your location already has a patio or balcony, your safest bet is to restrict guests to those outdoor areas where the virus is less likely to be recirculated by your HVAC system. However, if you don’t have an area that can be converted for outdoor seating, you still have options. You may consider closing normal operations and hosting outdoor events using a beer garden license over the weekends.
The regulations for beer gardens can vary depending on your location. So check with your city to see what you need to do. You can make a deal with a local brewery or look into a second beer equipment Los Angeles to make these events as profitable as possible.
Make Hand Sanitizer Widely Accessible
Position hand sanitizer throughout your venue to ensure easy access for guests and employees at all times. If possible, find a way to secure each bottle, so that they stay in their original location. Leaving the bottles out and posting reminders for guests will increase the chance that your customers will sanitize their hands while enjoying your bar.
Offer Sustainable Straws
To make it easier for people to keep their masks on as much as possible, order a set of reusable straws. This environmentally friendly option will make your bar more accessible to people with disabilities. And it allows people to slip their straw under their masks with minimal exposure. This is one great way to moderate COVID-19 and bar safety.
Remove Stools and Chairs as Necessary
To discourage large groups from congregating, limit the number of seats available to match the new capacity cap for your establishment. It is not a perfect solution. After all, many people will happily stand while chatting with other patrons. So ask your security staff to politely ask people to disperse as necessary.
Set Common Sense Drink Maximums
Depending on your clientele, set what you deem to be a reasonable maximum on drinks per customer. Post these maximums throughout your location to avoid angry customers. And instruct your bartenders to enforce it as much as they can. By preventing people from becoming too intoxicated, you can make it easier to ensure that they will use common sense when it comes to following existing safety rules.
Offer Food
We realize that a drink maximum is not always enforceable, especially if you’re at a larger bar. As an alternative, try making a deal with a local restaurant or food truck to provide food to your customers. This will help to balance out the effects of alcohol and give another local business a chance to bring in more income.
Honestly, if you own or work in a bar, there is no good answer to the current situation. Multiple reports show the legitimacy of the concerns surrounding the virus’ spread through bars and restaurants. All you can do is put as many safety protocols in place as necessary and ask your patrons to respect the health of you and your employees. COVID-19 and bar safety are not worth keeping in the dark.
