- Title: 'It's not my job': A cafe owner's revolt against France's health pass rules
- Date: 19th August 2021
- Summary: TREDREZ-LOCQUEMEAU, FRANCE (AUGUST 18, 2021) (REUTERS) OWNER OF CAFE THEODORE DENIS COURSOL, WITH HIS DOG, WALKING TO HIS CAFE VARIOUS OF COURSOL SERVING BEER CAFE CUSTOMERS IN THE OUTDOOR SEATING AREA VARIOUS OF COURSOL SETTLING BILL WITH CUSTOMERS HOUSES IN VILLAGE / SEA BEHIND BELL TOWER OF CHURCH BOATS AT SEA ROCKS COURSOL TALKING TO CUSTOMERS (SOUNDBITE) (French) OWNER OF CAFE THEODORE, DENIS COURSOL, SAYING: "There are many people calling us to check if we ask for the health pass or not, these are people who are vaccinated and so on. For me, it's quite clear and I respond with what the law is requiring: the health pass is mandatory. However, I specify that I don't make checks at the entrance. But I know what the law states. The health pass is not a problem for us. My problem is not the health pass. My problem is being asked to check for it. It's not our job, it's not our work ethic." CAFE CUSTOMERS HAVING DRINKS AT GARDEN COURSOL CARRYING BEERS FOR CUSTOMERS CUSTOMER TALKING COURSOL TALKING TO CUSTOMERS / CUSTOMERS CLINKING GLASSES (SOUNDBITE) (French) OWNER OF CAFE THEODORE, DENIS COURSOL, SAYING: "We feel that we are not authorised, we are not agents or health police to check if our customers have the pass or not, if they are vaccinated or not. It's not a political or ideological act it's just an ethical matter for us, the way we work in a cafe. It's been 14 years that I've owned this cafe, and I never check whoever who comes here and it's not now that I will begin doing so." HAND SANITIZER / COURSOL TALKING TO CUSTOMERS AT BAR PEOPLE QUEUING TO ORDER CREPES CREPE MENU PEOPLE EATING (SOUNDBITE) (French) OWNER OF CAFE THEODORE, DENIS COURSOL, SAYING: "Of course, I'm taking the risk that my business gets shut down by administrative closure. We talked about it with my employees, with the association who does the cultural events, and we all agreed that if ever police would come and ask us to check our customers for the health pass, we will close our establishment." PRESIDENT OF CULTURAL ASSOCIATION, TOHU BOHU YANN LEVREL LEVREL AND COURSOL TALKING (SOUNDBITE) (French) PRESIDENT OF CULTURAL ASSOCIATION, TOHU BOHU YANN LEVREL, SAYING: "We're very clear. We mention the law, the way it was written, and we think that people are responsible and act responsibly when they come here." VARIOUS OF CUSTOMER FERNANDO MARTINEZ AND HIS DAUGHTER AT TABLE, READING BOOK BOOK (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CUSTOMER, FERNANDO MARTINEZ, SAYING: "It's a democratic gesture to not discriminate between the vaccinated and unvaccinated. We use masks, hand sanitizers and there is outdoor space, in the garden." LOUNA CLOZEL AND MAGALIE RENON HAVING WINE (SOUNDBITE) (French) CUSTOMER, LOUNA CLOZEL, SAYING: "It's like a little oasis, it's nice to not have to show our health pass, I don't have it anyway yet. It's sad because before, it was normal to go in a bar when we want, it's been a long time since I've experienced that. To be able to not show it, to do something spontaneously, like before, it's good." (SOUNDBITE) (French) CUSTOMER, MAGALIE RENON, SAYING: "Even when I'll have the two vaccine doses, if I do it, I don't wish to have a health pass. So it's good to have some places where there are no second-class citizens, where we can all live together. For me it's important, I don't like seeing this (health pass) take place." VARIOUS OF COURSOL TALKING TO CUSTOMERS VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WAITING SITTING IN A SMALL MOVIE THEATRE SIGN FOR CINEMA TICKET: 5 EUROS
- Embargoed: 2nd September 2021 12:40
- Keywords: COVID cafe diners health pass restaurant vaccines
- Location: TREDREZ-LOCQUEMEAU, FRANCE
- City: TREDREZ-LOCQUEMEAU, FRANCE
- Country: France
- Topics: Europe,Human-Led Feature,Human-Led Stories
- Reuters ID: LVA001EQY2Z47
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: In a rural corner of western France, cafe owner Denis Coursol refuses to check his customers carry a COVID-19 health pass, an act of rebellion against legislation that risks the temporary shutdown of his business and even jail time.
Coursol, 62, is not against the vaccine - he and his two employees have received their shots. But he is adamant it is not his job to police his patrons.
"My problem is not the health pass. My problem is being asked to check for it," said Coursol, taking a break from picking his way amongst his dogs as he served beer to outdoor tables at his Theodore Cafe.
President Emmanuel Macron's government has imposed the strictest health pass rules in Europe. The pass - proof of vaccination or a recent negative COVID-19 test - has to be shown to eat in a restaurant, drink in a bar, access non-emergency treatment in a hospital, or travel on an intercity train.
A check takes just a few seconds, long enough to scan a QR code stored on a phone or a physical document.
Cafe and bar owners caught flouting the rule face a warning, followed by a seven-day closure order on the second infraction. Two further contraventions could lead to a year's jail time.
"I'm taking the risk," said Coursol, his broad handlebar mustache and long, greying hair hiding much of his face.
The police had not passed by since the law requiring the checks took effect on Aug. 9, he said.
Many restaurateurs have complained it is impractical to spend time checking for passes, that they should not be compelled to discriminate against those not vaccinated, and that the rules are deterring would-be diners from eating out.
People angered by the passes have protested in towns and cities across France for the past five weeks. The government says they are a noisy minority and polls show a majority of people support the rules.
Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire on Thursday (August 19) said that any restaurant, cafe, or bar not conducting health checks would not be eligible for future COVID-related financial support.
Fernando Martinez, an unvaccinated Spaniard and regular drinker at the Theodore Cafe, applauded Coursol's defiant stance. "It's a democratic gesture to not discriminate between the vaccinated and unvaccinated," he said.
Another diner, Louna Clozel, said Denis's cafe was like a "little oasis" where people can still act without restrictions.
In between sips of white wine with Clozel, Magalie Renon said "it's good to have some places where there are no second-class citizens".
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