COVID-19 capacity regulations at bars are causing people to line up along Court Street in order to get in, raising concerns about social distancing.
Athens Mayor Steve Patterson said as long as the lines outside of establishments are not blocking pedestrian traffic, there is nothing to do about them.
“There's nothing anywhere in the city code that dictates how long a line can be anywhere as long as people aren't impeding pedestrian traffic … back and forth. And we've not seen anything like that,” Patterson said. “The social distancing issue is the governor's order to where people need to be social distance six feet apart … but it's the responsibility of the individuals.”
Each establishment on Court Street has a designated capacity to allow for safe social distancing, along with enforcing the mask mandate inside, causing lines to form in order to get into the bars.
“Our capacity is only 110 right now, so that's as many that we have in here at a time,” Ali Cutshall, bar manager at the Pigskin Sports Bar and Grill, said. “But, it’s definitely been an increase because … on the weekends, we usually have about 30 people on our waitlist.”
Cutshall said each staff member at Pigskin has been trained on COVID-19 procedures, but there are some difficulties managing the line outside of the bar and enforcing those procedures while patrons are drinking.
“When people drink more, they're less likely to follow rules,” Cutshall said. “So, we just have to be on our A-game with keeping people seated and wearing masks.”
Students attending bars are also experiencing difficulties adjusting to the COVID-19 procedures. Brennen Bass, a junior studying finance, said with the COVID-19 regulations, he misses dancing at the bars.
In addition to the increasing number of bar patrons lining up outside of establishments, Patterson said there has been a correlation between COVID-19 cases and people going to the bars. Recently, many new COVID-19 cases in Athens were within the 20-29 age range, he said.
However, there has been an improvement in the overall number of cases due to the curfew set by Gov. Mike Dewine.
“They are still under curfew … and I think that they've been adhering to the capacity,” Patterson said. “What they're doing has certainly helped bring those down.”
Despite the downside of increased COVID-19 regulations at bars, Bass said he likes that there is an 11 p.m. curfew.
However, Patterson said the curfew doesn’t stop all of the partying in Athens.
“What's troubling is that with the … curfew, it doesn't stop individuals from partying and drinking,” Patterson said. “And what we don't know is what's going on behind closed doors. In rental houses or apartments, we have no way to know.”
Cutshall thinks the bars are safer than house parties right now due to the coronavirus regulations.
“We do follow all regulations that are in place,” Cutshall said. “I would say it's safer than house parties, because you’re actually … seated with just your party. You're not standing up and getting around and sharing drinks, things like that. It is safe to come out and safe to be in the bars, or safer than it would be to be at a house party.”
Despite the regulations set in place, Patterson said he is still wary of groups gathering indoors.
“At this point in time under a pandemic, indoor activities anywhere, indoor gatherings anywhere is just not a safe thing to do because of the severity of the contagiousness of this virus,” Patterson said. “It’s highly contagious, and any time you’re indoors … you are at greater risk of contracting COVID-19 than you are if you’re outside.”
