Despite pandemic, young bar patrons want to keep partying

When a crowd of mostly young customers walked under the awning of Caddies on Cordell in Bethesda, Md., on Friday night, they were stopped by masked security guards, who took their temperatures under a big, white- lettered “Caddies” sign.

As it got busier, other guards roamed through the bar, reminding customers to wear masks when they left their tables.

But then two tables full of 20- somethings scooted together to form one table of nine — over the six- person limit.

Inside, Luke Johnson and Taylor Green, both 22, had to raise their voices to hear each other at their booth, one of only a few occupied inside — the DJ whom Caddies owner Ronnie Heckman hired for the night was mixing right near them.

Green, of Cumberland, Md., said it was fine — the booth was comfortable, and, anyway, she felt the risks of infection had been exaggerated. Her friend, a 24- year- old man from Fairfax County in Virginia who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he didn’t want to be judged for his views on the novel coronavirus, agreed.

“We can never get rid of this,” her friend said of the virus. “Isn’t this the point? We have to go out and open up eventually.”

Last week, the governors of Maryland and Virginia raised concerns about enforcement of pandemic rules, such as masks and social distancing, at bars and restaurants — with Maryland Republican Gov. Larry Hogan noting in a letter to county officials that the coronavirus positivity rate among Marylanders under 35 is on the rise.

The Maryland State Licensed Beverage Association, which represents bars, has been sending its members daily reminders to comply with the rules.

“Hopefully everyone heeds the warning,” said Jack Milani, the group’s legislative chairman.

Heckman said he was doing what he can to follow the rules officials put in place. But, he said, when Caddie’s gets particularly busy and as the drinks start flowing, it can be hectic.