Restaurants with no Plans to Require Masks or Proof of Vaccination

COLORADO RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION SURVEYS 148 RESTAURANTS

El Comercio de Colorado Newsroom

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The Colorado Restaurant Association survey has revealed that the majority of its affiliated restaurants have hesitancy to impose new restrictions related to COVID-19. 73 percent of the restaurateurs interviewed would only require masks or vaccination tests from their employees and customers if this is mandated by the local or federal government. For this study, 148 restaurants were surveyed during the first weekend of August 2021.

“We wanted to see the pulse of the restaurant association membership across the state of Colorado and see what everyone was currently up to and what they planned to do,” explained Denise Mickelsen, CRA communication director. Mickelsen said the survey came after the CDC recently revised its mask suggestion and places like New York City began requiring proof of vaccination for eating inside restaurants.

Requirements for employees and customers

More than half of the restaurants surveyed do not require their employees to wear masks or get vaccinated. However, a third of those surveyed say that their unvaccinated employees must wear masks while working. Only 8 percent of the restaurants interviewed require that all their employees be vaccinated against COVID-19, and 6 percent of restaurants ask their unvaccinated employees to take the vaccine.

Most Colorado restaurants do not require their customers to wear masks or show proof of vaccination. This is the case for 77 percent of the restaurants surveyed. Meanwhile, 17 percent of restaurants reported requiring their unvaccinated customers to wear masks. Only two restaurants out of 148 respondents require guests to show proof of vaccination before allowing access to the indoor dining room.

A Strict Restaurant

The Bonanno Concepts restaurant group will begin requiring proof of vaccination from employees and customers of its nine restaurants in the Denver metro area beginning Sept. 30. “It seems like it’s the right thing to do. We’re trying to create a safe work environment for the people we work with,” said Frank Bonanno, director of the restaurant chain, to 9NEWS.

Concern

The CRA survey reveals that restaurateurs in Colorado are concerned that their employees will have to monitor customers to comply with possible mask mandates. 35 percent of those surveyed are also concerned that this requirement to wear masks and to present vaccination certificates may be illegal. “We don’t want to be hit by disgruntled customers, much less, sued for interfering in the privacy of our employees and customers,” said a restaurant owner from the Lakewood area.