Restaurants react to provincial mandate that patrons will have to show proof of vaccination

News of a new mandate requiring patrons show proof of vaccination to enter restaurants and pubs in B.C. is being met with concern but also resolve by business operators.

At Wings in Vernon, Sherman Dahl says the mandate means restaurants will have to redouble their focus on giving the best possible experience, even if patrons aren't happy about the rules.

"We've had to do this with government ID and alcohol, so it's not really any different," he said Monday.

He wonders more whether the policy will be enforceable.

"Even in the more open environment up till now (Stage 3 of the provincial reopening plan), we've still had our share of anti-maskers and so on ... but haven't had a single incident because of it.

"We're not in the business of trying to determine if people should be wearing a mask or be vaccinated," said Dahl. "The province will have to provide us with a system to make it work so we can comply."

His wife, Katie Dahl, says she's "a little worried ... Do I have to have someone stand at the door now and enforce this? We're not the police. I'm not going to put staff in harm's way."

She said first it was masks, then the lockdown, then forest fires, the province telling tourists to stay away ... "and now this to top it all off."

"It's another kick in the you know what."

She expressed doubt that the new rules will convince hard-core anti-vaxxers to change their minds.

As of Sept. 13, patrons will have to show proof of at least their first COVID shot. By Oct. 24, they must be fully vaccinated.

The rules apply not only to restaurants and pubs, but also to sports events, concerts, theatres, casinos, nightclubs and fitness centres, as well as to weddings and conferences.

In Kamloops, Al Deacon at the Fox 'n Hounds Pub said he supports the move.

"I think that our province needs some strong measures to stop this upward curve," he said. "I am in support of decisions being made to do whatever it takes to close the door on COVID-19."

He said restrictions since the pandemic hit have been crippling to the industry.

"We've been closed as many months as we've been open in the last 17 months," he said. "I think it's a move in the right direction. The burden on our health-care system has to be eased."

At Pizzeria Tratto in Penticton, co-owner Christopher Royal said his initial response was: "Oh, dear."

Prior to this, he said there had been an "upbeat feeling that the end might be near."

He expects the new mandate may create "a stifling of money spent in restaurants again," and he described it as "not a good thing" for business owners.

But, from a health perspective, he said "we will do whatever it takes."

He said restaurateurs need "a playbook we can follow that is clear... This a new wrench, so not I'm quite sure how that's going to play out."

Royal said he would have preferred Canada do what New Zealand did at the beginning of the pandemic, and lock down hard right away to get it under control.

He said "half measures have left a lot of people mistrusting government."