VOA慢速英语--英国酒吧使用电子围栏使饮酒者远离服务员

A business in southwest England is using an electric fence to enforce social distancing rules to stop the spread of COVID-19.

Johnny McFadden is the landlord of Star Inn, a public house – or pub – in the village of St. Just. He set up the fence in front of the pub's main drinking area to make sure that people keep at least two meters distance away from others.

McFadden said, "If I had put a little bit of rope there, I don't think anybody would have taken this much attention as they have to an electric fence." He spoke¹ to the Reuters news agency.

England is famous for its pubs, where locals gather to enjoy alcoholic² drinks and sometimes food. The government gave pubs permission to reopen on July 4, but they must enforce social distancing measures. That includes limiting pub employees' contact with customers, and reducing the time customers spend at the bar.

McFadden said the rules represented a big culture change for his business.

"I run a very small bar. Everybody is accustomed to sitting at the bar, pushing at the bar. They can't do that now. Things have changed," he said.

The fence is not actually turned on. But McFadden said that the same logic³ which works in the nearby farms of rural Cornwall also works for the local drinkers.

He said, "As long as there's a warning sign on an electric fence and you are warned about it, it's totally legal. And there's the fear factor - it works."

McFadden added, "People are like sheep. Sheep keep away, people keep away."

I'm Jonathan Evans.

Words in This Story

accustomed – adj. being in the habit or custom

customer – n. someone who buys goods or services from a business

factor – n. something that helps produce or influence a result

landlord – n. a man who runs an inn, pub, or rooming house

logic – n. a proper or reasonable way of thinking about or understanding something

1 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

2 alcoholic   

adj.（含）酒精的，由酒精引起的；n.酗酒者

参考例句：

• The alcoholic strength of brandy far exceeds that of wine.白兰地的酒精浓度远远超过葡萄酒。
• Alcoholic drinks act as a poison to a child.酒精饮料对小孩犹如毒药。

3 logic   

n.逻辑(学)；逻辑性

参考例句：

• What sort of logic is that?这是什么逻辑？
• I don't follow the logic of your argument.我不明白你的论点逻辑性何在。