New Government Ad Campaign warns "Don't Let A Coffee Cost Lives"

A series of social media ads designed to shock the British into staying home and avoiding socialising were released on Thursday.

On the official UK Government Facebook page, a post warned: “Unnecessary social contact puts you and others at risk. If you are buying takeaway food or drinks, remember: wash your hands, wear a face-covering indoors and stay 2 metres apart from others”

Don't let a coffee cost lives Government Ad

Meanwhile the Prime Minister’s Twitter account said “Meeting others unnecessarily could be the link in a chain of transmission that has a vulnerable person at the end. Please, stay at home this weekend”.

Meeting others unnecessarily could be the link in a chain of transmission that has a vulnerable person at the end. Please, stay at home this weekend
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson via Twitter

This is likely to be a hugely unpopular message for coffee shop and café owners who can still serve food and drinks via click-and-collect and drive-through. The current guidance is that hospitality venues such as cafes, restaurants, pubs, bars and social clubs must close, “with the exception of providing food and non-alcoholic drinks for takeaway (until 11pm), click-and-collect and drive-through. All food and drink (including alcohol) can continue to be provided by delivery.”

Meanwhile, according to an Opinion poll for the Observer, most people now believe that takeaway coffee shops, cafes and children’s nurseries should also be closed as part of further tightening down of the national lockdown.

Tough times for some, but great news for subscription-based coffee companies supplying home drinkers.