Boris Johnson said he wanted people to use the loosening of lockdown in England from tomorrow to 'enjoy summer'. But he insists that the success of the move is down to whether people act 'responsibly', urging the public not to 'let down' the sectors of the economy that desperately need to reopen safely. Mr Johnson made the appeal in an LBC radio phone-in this morning as a poll by ITVs Good Morning Britain (GMB) showed nearly 90 per cent of voters are dubbing tomorrow 'Stupid Saturday' instead of 'Super Saturday'. Social media users appear far from excited about pubs in England reopening, with many tweeting they will keep clear of boozers tomorrow.
But as police brace for chaos and fears of a surge in coronavirus cases critics have said the 6am opening time gives 'mixed messages' about excessive drinking when most hostelries usually open at 11am or midday unless they serve breakfasts.
Officers are so worried that the Chief Constables of Devon & Cornwall Police and Dorset Police have said today that drinkers there will be limited to two hours in a pub - but have not said how it will be imposed.
The Prime Minister has said that he wanted people to use the loosening of lockdown in England from tomorrow to 'enjoy summer'. But he insists that the success of the move is down to whether people act 'responsibly', urging the public not to 'let down' the sectors of the economy that desperately need to reopen safely.
Critics have called tomorrow 'Stupid Saturday' amid fears of heavy drinking, rowdy behaviour and most significant concerns that there could be a spike in coronavirus cases.
Mr Johnson made the appeal in an LBC radio phone-in this morning as police chiefs urge the British public to use their common sense tomorrow.
The move to allow pubs to reopen from 6am tomorrow will disappoint some punters who had hoped for establishments to open from midnight tonight.
The Prime Minister's official spokesman said today that the regulations 'mostly come into force at 12.01am' tomorrow.
They added: 'The reopening of pubs and bars specifically comes into force at 6am. That would just be in the event anybody would attempt to try to open at midnight.'
A poll by ITVs Good Morning Britain (GMB) showed nearly 90 per cent of voters are dubbing tomorrow 'Stupid Saturday' instead of 'Super Saturday'.
Social media users appear far from excited about pubs in England reopening, with many tweeting they will keep clear of boozers tomorrow.
While some want to stay away from the possible 'carnage', others are concerned about a potential rise in cases of Covid-19.
Mr Johnson said there was a need to proceed 'carefully and cautiously'.
'Tomorrow we come to step three of the plan that I set out on May 10, that everybody, I think, has understood, or huge numbers of people have understood and followed very carefully and very closely,' he told LBC.
'And it's because people stuck to that plan that we're now able to carefully and cautiously open up hospitality tomorrow. And my message is really for people to enjoy summer sensibly and make sure that it all works.'
The PM will use a Downing Street press conference today to warn that the Government could 'put on the brakes' and bring back severe restrictions if there is a surge in cases, as has been witnessed in Leicester.
The relaxation in England is set to be a key test of the progress made by imposing draconian restrictions on March 23 to halt the spread of Covid-19.
Official pleas for calm tomorrow are being echoed by the public, as social media users tweet about keeping clear of pubs in England on 'Super Saturday'.
'In a pandemic, pubs have a new licence, a licence to contaminate, a licence to kill,' one social media user tweeted this morning.
Another post read: 'Why is the reopening of pubs tomorrow being called Super Saturday? Carnage Saturday seems more appropriate.'
One person commented: 'Is anyone actually going to the pub tomorrow or are they are all doing the same thing and "wait until it dies down"?'
'#StayHomeSaturday #ProtectNHS,' one tweet read. 'StopTheSpread. Drink at home, don't risk spreading Covid-19 please.'
Another said 'if I see anyone going to the pubs on reopening I will unfriend u on sight', while one added: 'The list time this country had a super Saturday, we were celebrating incredible sports people winning gold medals. Now they are using the phrase to celebrate pubs reopening and people most probably getting drunk.
'Change the phrase, because tomorrow is not going to be super.'
Pub landlord William Douglas told GMB today that he has chosen not to reopen Docks Beer in Grimsby amid concerns for health and safety.
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