Electric Fence Keeps Drinkers Back from Waiters in English Pub
2020-07-19
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1A business in southwest England is using an electric fence to enforce social distancing rules to stop the spread of COVID-19.
2Johnny McFadden is the landlord of Star Inn, a public house - or pub - in the village of St. Just.
3He set up the fence in front of the pub's main drinking area to make sure that people keep at least two meters distance away from others.
4McFadden said, "If I had put a little bit of rope there, I don't think anybody would have taken this much attention as they have to an electric fence."
5He spoke to the Reuters news agency.
6England is famous for its pubs, where locals gather to enjoy alcoholic drinks and sometimes food.
7The government gave pubs permission to reopen on July 4, but they must enforce social distancing measures.
8That includes limiting pub employees' contact with customers, and reducing the time customers spend at the bar.
9McFadden said the rules represented a big culture change for his business.
10"I run a very small bar. Everybody is accustomed to sitting at the bar, pushing at the bar. They can't do that now. Things have changed," he said.
11The fence is not actually turned on.
12But McFadden said that the same logic which works in the nearby farms of rural Cornwall also works for the local drinkers.
13He said, "As long as there's a warning sign on an electric fence and you are warned about it, it's totally legal. And there's the fear factor - it works."
14McFadden added, "People are like sheep. Sheep keep away, people keep away."
15I'm Jonathan Evans.
1A business in southwest England is using an electric fence to enforce social distancing rules to stop the spread of COVID-19. 2Johnny McFadden is the landlord of Star Inn, a public house - or pub - in the village of St. Just. He set up the fence in front of the pub's main drinking area to make sure that people keep at least two meters distance away from others. 3McFadden said, "If I had put a little bit of rope there, I don't think anybody would have taken this much attention as they have to an electric fence." He spoke to the Reuters news agency. 4England is famous for its pubs, where locals gather to enjoy alcoholic drinks and sometimes food. The government gave pubs permission to reopen on July 4, but they must enforce social distancing measures. That includes limiting pub employees' contact with customers, and reducing the time customers spend at the bar. 5McFadden said the rules represented a big culture change for his business. 6"I run a very small bar. Everybody is accustomed to sitting at the bar, pushing at the bar. They can't do that now. Things have changed," he said. 7The fence is not actually turned on. But McFadden said that the same logic which works in the nearby farms of rural Cornwall also works for the local drinkers. 8He said, "As long as there's a warning sign on an electric fence and you are warned about it, it's totally legal. And there's the fear factor - it works." 9McFadden added, "People are like sheep. Sheep keep away, people keep away." 10I'm Jonathan Evans. 11Tom Nicholson reported on this story for the Associated Press. Jonathan Evans adapted this story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. 12________________________________________________________________ 13Words in This Story 14accustomed - adj. being in the habit or custom 15customer - n. someone who buys goods or services from a business 16factor - n. something that helps produce or influence a result 17landlord - n. a man who runs an inn, pub, or rooming house 18logic - n. a proper or reasonable way of thinking about or understanding something