Because of the threatening 2Gplus rule: Peiting's hosts symbolically switch off the light - "Then we can lock up completely"

Created: 01/10/2022, 6:00 PM

From: Barbara Schlotterer-Fuchs

Lights out in the tavern: host Peter Egger sees zappenduster in the "Stollen".

© private

Peiting's hosts turn off the lights - all of them at the same time.

With the action on Monday evening, the landlords want to show what it could look like if the Corona requirements for gastronomy become even stricter: Zappenduster.

Peiting - Peiting's landlords want to show on Monday evening how it could be if "2G" or "2Gplus" continue to apply to a visit to the catering trade: punctually at 8 p.m. in all restaurants - from the town center to the magic hut in Birkland, everyone Lights are turned off. An action with a symbolic character that stands for the anger and hopelessness that prevails in the industry. The signal: the lights will go out soon.

The whole thing was initiated by Monika Pummer from Gasthof Dragoner.

“The curfew was really tough for us.” Then also 2G.

But 2Gplus?

That's where it ends, the hosts agree.

Who goes to dinner spontaneously if they have to present a current negative test from the pharmacy beforehand.

"We understand that there shouldn't be big parties," says Pummer.

But go to dinner?

That has to be inside.

"We are not drivers of pandemics," she emphasizes.

Curfew and 2Gplus: "That will surely be a shot in the neck for some companies."

"It is a disaster"

“It's a disaster,” says Yanek Kozak, boss at Café Central.

He also doesn't know what to do if there is a huge drop in sales.

The staff blanket is also getting thinner and thinner: “Three people have already looked for something else.” The problem: If the store starts up again, there will be a shortage of workers.

“Personnel doesn't grow on trees.” Lockdown, strict rules, Lockdown light, even stricter rules.

"We held out for a really long time, now it's getting really difficult slowly."

"It's getting tight," says Peter Egger from the traditional restaurant Zechenschenke.

Many guests would not go out to eat out of fear.

No host can survive with ten meals a day.

And the big celebrations: all canceled, of course.

"We will close at some point because it no longer pays off," says Thomas Schäffler from the Buchberger inn in the center of town.

“2G has already broken a lot.

2G plus would give us the rest. "

Oliver Gayk from “Ollis Schnaidbergstuben” doesn't sound very positive either.

No sooner had he taken over the restaurant than Corona arrived.

Then a huge construction site.

And now Corona again.

Almost all Christmas parties had been canceled.

“And you can really tell that people are very insecure about 2G.” Then there are older people who have forgotten their vaccination card at home and have to drive back.

So it's no wonder that many people lose their appetite for a meal in the restaurant.

Lights out in the Dragoon.

Landlady Monika Pummer says: "We are not pandemic drivers" © private

The situation at Bärbel Schlamp from Saliterhof in Peiting is also dramatic. Only a few years ago, she and her husband made huge investments - in a large, modern restaurant that these days is one thing above all else: empty. She still has just 30 percent of the actual turnover here. “And we haven't seen short-time work benefits from the office for employees either.” Week after week, people think about how things should go on here. She fears: "It's getting dark."

Doomsday mood also in the magic hut in Birkland.

Instead of a jam-packed magical evening, sales are magically gone.

With the 80 percent drop in sales that Robert Astleitner has to record, "not even the running costs can be covered".

And the staff is also slowly running out of breath.

Short-time working benefits and a lack of tips have torn a deep hole in the wallet.

"When it starts again in May or June, we won't have anyone here anymore."

"The industry is used to drive the boosting."

If things continue like this, or if further restrictions are planned for the gastronomy, "then we can lock up completely."

Astleitner also finds it bad that the measures would drive the division of society even further.

"Nobody has any more understanding for the measures," he says, referring to the (missing) guests, the hosts and the staff.

"The industry is simply being used again to promote boosting."