"I really hope things aren’t rushed. We want this to be the last lockdown, don’t we?" Readers' discuss whether Eat Out to Help Out should return

We asked our readers’ what they thought about both, and whether restarting the scheme would be a good or bad idea. This is what they had to say:

David Hopkins said that; “It would be safer to run it across the week rather than 3 days, you are creating a convergence of people in a reduced space of time trying to get a good deal.” This was something that a few agreed with, like June Watkin, who said; “Needs to be every night went last time and it was very unnerving too many people in one place, to me too many, and not a lot of social distancing.”

However, Karen Blewitt is firmly against such an idea, saying; “Does COVID know when you’re eating, and it decides to bugger off!? We didn’t do this before when it was on. When booze is involved, even if we’ll meaning, everybody’s all over each other. It does need to re open, but can we get the kids back to school first rather than be thinking about being back to 2019.”

Sandra Jane Flinders says that; “As long as the proper social distancing is in place I would love to eat out again.”

Rab Cook is not sold on the idea, saying; “Don't businesses like this know that the jab apparently only prevents death maybe and its still very nasty and life threatening to thousands even millions of people with underlying illnesses etc etc etc. And it nearly always JD wetherspoon the first to put you all under the threat of being a threat. My opinion. Its to early to let the hoards loose.”

And Loraine Ellis followed up swiftly on Rab’s comments, saying; “Stupid idea, should be schools first, see how that goes for 3 weeks, then non essential shops, hairdressers and lastly pubs leaving at least a 3 week gap between them all. If then there are any spikes then don’t open the next. By this time most of the groups should have been vaccinated.”

Wendy Mcgilveray disagrees with the naysayers, and she states that; “I can guarantee you would be safer at our restaurant than any supermarket, fact.”

Darren Ridge is thinking of the human (and mental health) impacts of the lockdown; “Just open the pubs. Lonely people need this interaction. I lost another friend to suicide through this.”

Another one of the ‘No we shouldn’t’ folk, John Land says; “Stupid plan we should just sit it out till the vaccine is fully rolled out.”

Michael Mickeybear Gair said; “Its safer to go to the local shop buy a few cans and enjoy them at home then sit in a pub with people with possible covid but I dont drink alcohol anyway.”

But David Thompson is; “All over it, loved the last one and will be out again as soon as possible.”

Georgia Klein remembers where the finger was pointed the last time, when she said; “Such a bad idea... eat out to help out then to blame students for another lockdown, no thanks.”

And, Sharon Hackett is definitely considering the human impact (understandably), when she said; “What’s the point of everything opening if there’s no one here to enjoy it for gods sake people’s lives matter most.”

Alicia Mary isn’t against the idea but she urged a cautious approach; “I think the pubs will need all the help they can get!! But I really hope things aren’t rushed. We want this to be the last lock down don’t we.

Get the kids back to school first, leave it another month and see how things go”, and like Alicia, Adrian Finney said; “Eventually this is a great idea. But the timing has to be right we can’t rush into anything as we want this lockdown to be the final one.” Dave Fitzpatrick also agreed, saying that it was; “Too soon to be thinking about this... And look how everyone blamed this for the spike in cases last time.. Need to be more cautious this time.”

Gabrielle Ost thinks that the focus here is on the wrong thing, and; “the government always seem to just ‘find money’ like for kids free school meals, why can’t they just ‘find’ some to support independent pubs, businesses, etc without risking the lives of thousands like last summer.”

Joanna Dawson doesn’t see an issue with the scheme, based on her own experiences, she said; “I’d support it, evidence showed very little virus spread in pubs and restaurants. My local pub was a very controlled environment and I felt a lot safer there than at the supermarket.”

And, Kathryn Haywood doesn’t think the answer is in the scheme, saying; “We don't need eat out to help out. Everyone then just rushes to pub. Just open them as normal with social distancing ect in place. The country needs to get the economy going again... Yes pubs probably will be last to open but if done sensibly it will work and it will be the peoples choice whether they use them or not.”

Mary-Ann Ritchie kept it brief, saying; “err no” and finally…

Billy Draper said that the; “Timing has to be right or we’ll just keep going round in circles.”