Kmflett's Blog

On Temperance, pub opening hours & the furlough

As anyone who comes across my twitter handle will know I like a drink. Indeed given that I don’t post for professional reasons on most of what I do all day on social media some might think that all I do is drink. Sorry to confound you.

The latest random Johnsonian announcement on pub opening hours which will be restricted to 10pm in England (without drinking up time it would appear) takes me back to younger days. Before 1988 pubs in Tottenham N17 closed at 10.30pm Sunday to Thursday. A further 30 minutes were generously allowed on Fridays and Saturdays.

Drinking up time was 10 minutes and if you had not finished by then either your glass (empty or not) was removed by a burly operative or you were despatched to finish it outside. Those were the days..

The current restriction to 10pm is, in the very broadest sense, something to do with controlling COVID-19 infections. This is an urgent requirement which can be sorted out by Track and Trace working. That is beyond Johnson and something must be done. Pubs are it.

I note many are looking for a specific logic about why 10pm has been chosen (some local lockdowns have had 11pm). There isnt, mostly, a particular reason. Its just an earlier time than now and so fulfils the ‘something must be done’ requirement. In so far as there is something there the idea perhaps it is that it might make people drink less. I doubt it. That never worked when it was 10.30pm closing

As Pete Brown has underlined it will unfortunately make no difference to COVID-19 infections. It will make a difference to jobs and businesses particularly as Johnson ‘forgot’ to extend the furlough.

https://www.petebrown.net/2020/09/22/covid-resurgence-why-pubs-are-not-the-problem/

So what is behind it. The answer I’m afraid is temperance.

You might be forgiven for thinking that temperance is a rather Victorian thing but it is still very much with us. In 2020 it is the campaign to stop drinking and shut pubs that dare not announce its name. Its actual name in 2020 is the Institute for Alcohol Studies (you can Google it) and that is part of a much wider anti-drink initiative (Sober October looms)which is influential in public health circles.

To be honest it should be influential because drinking can be a serious health problem and needs to be addressed just as other problems are.

The issue that public health has with COVID-19 at the moment is that it clearly knows that Track and Trace is essential but, er, Johnson. Something must be seen to be done. So pubs then.

Life is often complex so forgive me if I point out that the only real source of complaints about temperance in recent times has been the rather right-wing Spectator. Yes, indeed, the link between Tories and brewing interests continues.

On the other hand many of the demands to control drinking come from the left. I’m on board, up to a point. As a union officer and political activist I have a long record of not allowing drinking before or during meetings I organise (after is fine). It seems to be a less of a problem now but even 20 years ago it was a real issue.

There are strong links between the labour movement and temperance campaigns but its not the only tradition.

There are those and I’m one who argue that its not drink that is the issue but the low paid work, poor housing and general misery of life for many that drives some (not all) to drink. That is what needs to be addressed.

Still, back to 10pm closing. For me a very slight inconvenience. For others, their job. An injury to one is an injury to all. The furlough in hospitality must be extended by 6 months.