A SCOTCH EGG PLEASE GUV... AND 15 PINTS
COVID chaos ruled again last night after a Bozo sidekick said a humble Scotch egg could qualify as a substantial meal to get around Tier 2 pub restrictions.
CONFUSION reigned last night after a Cabinet minister said a Scotch egg would count as a “substantial meal” in a pub.
Environment Secretary George Eustice said it could let drinkers get around the Tier 2 restrictions in England.
When the national lockdown ends tomorrow, booze can be served only with “substantial” food in the middle tier.
That covers 57% of the population, including London, Liverpool and York.
Ministers have already said sausage rolls, crisps, nuts, pork scratchings or plates of chips do not meet the criteria.
Bottle
But Mr Eustice said: “I think a Scotch egg probably would count as a substantial meal if there were table service. Often that might be as a starter but, yes, I think it would.”
Punters “were more likely to maintain social distancing sat down and having a meal” in boozers, he added.
But critics called it “farcical”. One said: “I’ll have 10 pints of lager and a Scotch egg, please.” Another added: “A bottle of Pinot and an egg please. I’ll have the egg to go.”
In the harsher Tier 3, affecting 41% of the population, pubs and restaurants can only operate on a takeaway or delivery basis.
Downing Street insisted the concept of a “substantial meal” was well understood.
The Prime Minister’s spokesman said: “We have been clear bar snacks do not count as a substantial meal.”
PUBS and restaurants could demand to know if a customer has received a coronavirus jab before letting them in, the Government’s vaccine minister suggested.
Nadhim Zahawi said he was looking into the technology of “immunity passports”.
THERE was a time when some boozers said eating was cheating.
Now it appears that not eating is cheating.
The vast majority of pubs up and down the country will have to serve punters a “substantial meal” with their pints if they reopen tomorrow.
But what that entails is anyone’s guess.
The Government is being typically vague about the new restrictions.
And leaving baffled landlords banging their heads against the bar.
Environment Secretary George Eustice said yesterday a Scotch egg was enough to keep the drinks flowing.
Yet sausage rolls, plates of chips or other bar snacks do not apparently cut the mustard.
We’re all pork scratching our heads at this lunacy.
There’s no point in setting a load of rules when they’re as clear as mud.
Hard- working publicans don’t know whether they’re coming or going at the moment.
The least they deserve is clarity.