Response to How Pauwgate unfolded

Regarding the article on Jacques Pauw: while there is little doubt that Pauw was at fault in more than one instance, I feel that there is a glaring omission in the behaviour/actions of the restaurant management and staff.

We are in the midst of a pandemic – much has been written and debated about the abuse of alcohol and the resulting trauma admissions to hospitals. We have had alcohol bans and now a partial selling ban and the curfew to try to curb this during the time of Covid-19.

In my opinion, the restaurant also has a lot to answer for in letting someone drink that amount of alcohol (it beggars belief that he did not pass out), the effect of which will surely render a person incompetent to drive, walk anywhere, pay anything, cash or otherwise, in short, to do any transaction. This in a normal year in our lives would be bad enough but in the time of Covid-19, just a plain disgrace. Were the managers/waiter looking at the mounting monetary return as opposed to showing some responsibility? I’m not surprised the CCTV footage shows no masks, you can’t drink with a mask on and you probably wouldn’t be capable of putting one on after that consumption of alcohol.

Education in respect of responsible and safe alcohol use is a glaring need in this country – from parents of teens at school to restaurant owners, tavern owners, liquor outlets, etc, we all need to do our bit to promote a reasonable attitude to alcohol. Having a few glasses of wine in the evening is not even in the same ballpark as what was apparently consumed on this occasion.