Early this week, Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam proposed that bars and restaurants in Hong Kong be banned from selling alcohol. The move is supposed to curb large gatherings, as well as any canoodling that may take place as people become inebriated. Apparently, those that imbibe tend to get increasingly touchy, and in turn spread the virus.
Lam's move is a pot shot at Hong Kong's expats. She surely knows that many of us Brits, Americans and Aussies survive on a steady stream of alcohol.
While restaurants in the city may remain open, banning their sale of alcohol will devastate businesses. Margins will be slashed and customers will disappear. Why on earth would I want to visit the Captain's Bar for a cup of tea and a sober chat?
And as for my banking friends, I have concerns about how business will get done. It's difficult enough working from home all day. But drinking from home? That’s going to be the real blow to how many of my senior banking friends get business done.
Luckily, I’m retired. As soon as Lam made her announcement, I ran over to my local supermarket and began filling my trolley with enough beer and wine to last me a fortnight. I wasn't the only one. I ran into a neighbour, an old colleague and others doing the same. We left behind rows stocked with toilet roll, canned goods and rice. Our focus was not survival but sanity.
Lam may think she has got one up on us, but we know best. I may be stuck at home – but now it’s happy hour all day long!