Regina pub criticized for unmasked, dancing customers in social media video

A Regina restaurant and bar is taking some heat online after a video circulated showing customers dancing together, some without masks.

The video from The Tap Brewhouse and Liquor Store was originally posted to Facebook on Saturday, but has since been removed from that platform. It was later reposted by a different user to Twitter.

For posterity, if it's taken down. This is how we take covid seriously, Canada.

Our Premier says our restrictions are enough to plateau (actually a slow rise) our caseload and deaths if 95% of us comply with all the rules. They trust us to do the right thing.

Help us? pic.twitter.com/NpSgmIyK38

— Kyle (@DrKyle) January 16, 2021

980 CJME was able to reach the bar’s owners, but they refused to do an interview, pointing to an apology they had posted.

In an emailed statement, the Ministry of Health said it had not yet issued a fine.

“Local public health officials have received the report of this instance and are currently investigating,” it said.

The Regina Police Service also sent an email saying the matter was “in the hands of the Saskatchewan Health Authority, working in conjunction with RPS.” The police said the case “will be dealt with appropriately.”

Some local restaurant owners criticized The Tap for the apparent violation of COVID rules.

Mike Lisanti, one of the owners of Pizzeria Pronto, said incidents like this tend to lower the general public’s confidence in restaurants.

“It’s not the majority of people. So when there’s a minority of people who are breaking the laws, it hurts everybody in the industry who is trying to do the right thing,” he said.

“(Customers) who are sitting on the fence say, ‘Should I go inside? Or should I just stay at home? I’m not sure about the attitudes of the restaurant, the staff or the other customers going there.’

“It definitely causes uncertainty.”

He worries about the potential spread of the virus, and what that could do to both public health and business.

“The whole community has to work together. You’re as strong as the weakest link. When there are some people who may not agree with the restrictions, they should still uphold them. As soon as somebody starts that breakdown, that’s how we get things out of control and spreading,” he said.

Thomas Siarkos, owner of Memories Dining and Bar, thinks the financial punishment for businesses breaking health orders just isn’t enough.

“What I would suggest to (the government) is to penalize the ones that don’t behave and reward the ones that do. A small penalty, perhaps, won’t solve the problem. But if you shut them down for a month or two, will they do it again? I doubt it,” he said.

He further criticized the video, saying it has been a massive challenge to stay open while following the rules.

“It is very upsetting and it is also very unfair for those of us who were trying to obey the rules and regulations … It’s bad enough that we have lost one-third of our capacity. We’re trying to do our best in order to survive and we have some others that don’t really listen … That way, they shame our industry’s name,” he said.

The virus has spread in restaurants a few times since the pandemic hit Saskatchewan. Most recently, many cases were linked to Crackers Restaurant in Saskatoon.