X Ox Have an idea for a story? M opinions@theotherpress.ca Living life with the virus safely » Rules about social distancing need more respect from the population Morgan Hannah Life & Style Editor I: an interesting world we live in, especially now with everyone learning to live with COVID-19. But the real question is how are we all adjusting to life with during the pandemic? The answer is quite the mixed bag. Rules and regulations have been put into place (like social distancing) that some believe are helping stop the spread of the disease. But, rules and regulations are only effective if those enforcing them continue to remind us all to participate. For example, just the other day, I got a delicious cold frappe and was surprised by how this particular coffee chain location is handling things. A pathway of green tape led the way from the door to the counter, indicating where each customer was to stand (2 metres apart), and there was an employee whose sole job was to open and close the door and make sure people shuffled along the taped pathway accordingly. Sure, this new way of grabbing your morning java means that the whole process is slowed down, but it’s also effective—and in times like these, comforting. I like having the staff take control and enforce social distancing as they were, because not everyone remembers or cares for the new helpful rules the government and some scientists are trying to enforce. I haven't yet taken public transit to get anywhere. If I cannot walk or be driven by my partner, | cannot get there— wherever “there” happens to be. At first, I thought this might've been overkill on my part, but when walking home from the grocery store last week, I peered into a bus that drives the same route as I walk and noticed absolutely no social distancing! There were people sitting in every row! Now, this might have been a one-off incident, and even so, it might seem alright right now because BC has done a pretty great job of flattening the curve in comparison to its neighbouring Canadian cities—considering that our new cases are generally in the single digits. But, if people get lax on keeping the space between each Illustration by Morgan Hannah other now, then the second wave could potentially hit faster and harder. “A second wave is inevitable,” Dr. Sandy Buchman, president of the Canadian Medical Association and resident of downtown Toronto said in an interview with Global News. Buchman predicts that the second wave will hit Canada during the fall, but the impact and arrival date will vary depending on region and depending on each and every one of us. Will the changes we are all seeing become the new normal? Well, it’s entirely possible that glass shields and face masks in workplaces may be part of the new normal, but people continue to fight for a return to what they're used to in other neighbourhoods—such as the beach ¢ No fun under COVID-19 e Loosening up on liquor laws e Race struggles in the USA ..and more goers. During the first hot weekend in BC, people flocked to the beach and set up their spots in the sand—and they kept coming. Soon, the entire beach looked as though it was at full capacity with many people parked on every square inch of the sand, sharing drinks, towels, drugs, and hugs as if nothing had changed. (Though it is important to note that photos of dense crowding can easily be simulated with a telephoto lens that, through perspective, makes everything look closer together.) It’s understandable that as the weather gets hot and sunny, Canadians want to get outside and enjoy their summers; however, it’s these little “pockets of paradise” that could potentially put us all at risk and make life during the pandemic that much harder for those who are at higher risk. In ambiguous situations, people look for social cues from others, so if we all remind ourselves to follow the rules and maintain the recommended distance of 2 metres apart—regardless of where we are and what we are doing—as well as wearing appropriate PPE when necessary, and regularly washing our hands or using sanitizer, then perhaps more of us can enjoy every day life and our summer season with the virus around. These are little sacrifices that I feel will help keep our nation comfortable and healthy and help everyone live their best lives during the pandemic. Is 1t time to treat Canadians like adults? » Loosening up on liquor laws Morgan Hannah Life & Style Editor Ii Canada, outside of Quebec, it is illegal to drink alcohol in an unlicensed public place—such as the beach. Each year, hundreds of people are ticketed for public drinking. Millions of others abstain from doing so because they believe that drinking in public is apparently illegal as shoplifting—even though drinking in public was perfectly legal just about everywhere in the world as recently as 1975. There are some who agree with this prohibition, claiming that drinking only where it is licensed to do so keeps the streets clean and orderly, and while that may be true to some degree, these laws impose excessive restrictions on ordinary people and responsible citizens that wish to simply enjoy a cold cider in the park, or a glass of wine at the beach. In the rest of the world, public drinking bans generally don’t exist. From the UK all the way to Indonesia, patrons can purchase a beer and take a walk with it without causing a scene or attracting a ticket—or worse, jail time. Some groups don't agree with this practice as they believe that if people are able to buy a bottle of wine and take it to the park, they may be less inclined to purchase wine ina restaurant. However, what if the ability to sit down in a restaurant or a pub is taken away for a long time due to this pandemic? Does that mean the only safe and legal place to consume alcohol becomes our own homes for an extended period? Does that mean that the public will break the law and resort to sneaky tactics such as vodka in their water bottles to enjoy a drink in the outdoors? Or does that mean it might just be time to change the liquor laws in Canada to match the majority of the world? The government should begin treating people like adults and give them the choice about when and where to drink. And if the idea of trying to organize millions of drinkers rather than just thousands of pubs and bars, is daunting, then perhaps opening up local outdoor places specifically for drinking publicly is an idea worthy of consideration. A perfect place for that here in BC is Granville Street. Before the pandemic hit, Granville Street becomes a thrumming hub of nightlife—so much so that traffic cannot drive down certain areas. Wouldn' it be cool to string up some Edison bulbs, play some music, and maybe put up some socially distanced patio sets and open up both Granville Street and its pubs and bars for takeout drinks? That way, local businesses serving sit-down drinks are able to reopen and a public space can be turned into a charming and safe place for everyone to enjoy a relaxing evening drink and maybe even some dancing. The nightclub scene could safely be reinvented and opened up to the outdoors—where it is less likely to contribute to the spread of the virus. Public drinking doesn’t have to take over every street corner and neighbourhood park, but by loosening the laws on liquor—especially during a Photo by Morgan Hannah tough time like this—the government can boost public morale, save more local businesses, and create fun ways for people to enjoy themselves responsibly rather than resulting to reused Gatorade bottles with booze and a splash of food colouring. This year, during our toughest global challenge yet, let’s treat Canadians like adults and give them the ability to choose to drink responsibly outside.