KEY POINTS

  • A Texas bar caught the attention of the public because of its "no mask policy"
  • It will not be serving customers who would wear their masks inside
  • It even has a sign on the door that says, "Sorry, no masks allowed"

The state of Texas finally lifted restrictions that were put in place during the lockdown in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Beginning Friday, bowling alleys, restaurants, and bars can resume their operations at 50% capacity. The Liberty Tree Tavern will also open its doors to customers on one condition: they must remove their masks, or bar personnel will refuse to serve them anything.

A Pushback

The state has issued common guidelines that businesses should follow upon resumption of operations. These include screening workers, customers, and participants regularly. They must also have hand sanitizing stations and must regularly sanitize tables, chairs, as well as counters and other surfaces. They are also told to encourage, but not require, the wearing of face masks.

Texas bar bans customers who would be wearing masks
Texas bar bans customers who would be wearing masks Free-Photos - Pixabay

The Liberty Tree Tavern, which is located in Elgin, around 25 miles east of Austin, announced they will also resume their operations but with a bit of advice to would-be customers. Bar staff posted a sign on their doors that read: “Due to our concern for customers, if they FEEL (not think), that they need to wear a mask, they should stay home until they FEEL that it’s safe to be in public without one. Sorry, No Mask Allowed.”

In an interview with KXAN-TV, a local television station affiliated with NBC, Kevin Smith said that the ban on wearing of masks inside the bar is “more of a pushback” against contact tracers and snitches. Mr. Smith is the co-owner of the Liberty Tree Tavern. “This is still a rural county,” Smith added.

A Risky Proposition

Public reaction to the tavern’s posted sign has been mixed. A local resident, Ross Owens, told KXAN he believes the policy of Liberty Tree is risky and “foolish.” “They’re making changes they don’t need to take, especially if they’re in public service,” Owens said.

Another resident, however, thinks otherwise. Charles Chamberlain, a stage 4 cancer survivor, said the bar’s policy does not bother him. For Chamberlain, it is just a choice. The bar just put that sign up to inform people that if they do not feel safe, they should not go there. “Everybody is keeping safe distances, they aren’t bunching up,” he added.

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