A pair of northern pubs have banned young patrons due to the government’s suggestion that under 30s are to blame for the country’s increase in coronavirus cases.
The boozers have set a minimum age requirement of 25 after Health Secretary Matt Hancock partly blamed the recent spike on “people in their 20s and 30s” going for drinks together.
Hancock claimed that track and trace data showed the virus was spreading most among this particular demographic.
Now, two pubs in Yorkshire have taken action to refuse access to the younger crowd.
The Oddfellows Arms in Sherburn in Elmet published a post on social media confirming the pub would no longer be “serving anyone in the age bracket 18-25.”
The statement has since been removed following a vitriolic response on the web, but the landlady has insisted the pub is just “trying to keep people safe.”
David Sayles, landlord of The Angel Inn in Sheffield, also announced his pub would ban “any under 25s or any children, with immediate effect.”
There are concerns that a second wave of the virus may be washing over the UK, with confirmed case rates reaching their highest numbers since May.
Testing centres are struggling to meet demand, and new restrictions on group socialising will enter law next week.
From Monday (14 September), gatherings of more than six people will be illegal in England.
The rule does not apply to schools, workplaces or COVID-secure weddings, funerals and organised team sports.