You will notice that the majority of control measures used throughout covid have been applied by utilizing the strength of licensed to venues to restrict access at "managers discretion".
ie. early days on signing in manually (paper), patron density levels, sitting rather than standing, dancing, sanitising etc etc etc.
This enabled early compliance action via the young and compliant community. If people want to drink and have fun they will do almost whatever is asked and licensing laws enable that control.
I personally left the industry at the reopening due to these measures. After 30 years in the hotel industry I was not able to ask a sixty year old patron to sit down (and at the opposite side of the table to his wife) to have a beer. We all have choices, I made mine. A significant six figure one.
So yes, rules have always varied in licensed venues during my career, but I never had to refuse entry due to a seventy year old punter for having shingles.
Enjoy your decisions and comply. I never asked you not to.
