COVID-19: What Can We Do?
We are at an unprecedented time in our lives. For the first time in decades, a virus has literally shut down the United States. That is correct; COVID-19 has taken over the world, including the U.S. As we all watch, listen, and read the news; we need to ask ourselves this question: As people in the bourbon community, what can we do? Some of the answers you are going to read will upset people and that is fine; par for the course for me. I am hoping that in upsetting someone it may turn on a switch that helps them understand the gravity of what COVID-19 means to our way of life.
Action Item One: Social Distancing
As bourbon people, we first and foremost need to adhere to CDC’s number one recommendation of social distancing. I get it, everyone feels like they have to be doing something or going somewhere all of the time or they feel left out; maybe feel like they are lame. It is time to temporarily put away your selfishness and stay away from bars (in states where the state has not shut them down), large tasting gatherings, liquor store tasting bars, bourbon society meeting, etc. It sucks but for every one of us that chooses to break those rules, we are hindering the main goal: stop the mass spread of the virus. No one cares that your IG feed is full of pics and videos of you doing crazy things at the bar or at a friend’s house with 20 people. Suck it up and do what is right in the short term so we call can go back to our normal lives sooner rather than later.
Action Item Two: Samples & Bottle Shares
Stop sending samples, bottles, etc. I don’t know about you but I 100% take empty sample bottles and fill them up with samples I send to friends and people in the ABV Network. I also use empty 200ml and 375ml bottles to send out larger samples or end of bottles to those same people. We have no idea how many hands these have gone through. We also need to cease bottle share events for the near future. If there are 50 people at a bottle share or society event and each one touches 50+ different bottles…see the problem? We need to be responsible and cease those activities immediately.
Action Item Three: Accountability
Hold each other accountable. Lifestyle conversations are tough because people feel like you are attacking them or judging them. If you know someone who is blatantly not practicing social distancing, call them out. Yes, they may not ever show signs of the virus but what happens when they give it to some other person who decides that going out to these places is more important than health. Then that person gives it to their grandparent or parent? This is one of those times where “me” doesn’t matter but “we” does.
Action Item Four: Grow Up!
Stop with the “I have been in my house for two days and I am already bored”. How old are you, 6? Most of us talk all the time about what series we binge on Netflix or how many bourbon books we have. How many things around the house need done but we put off because there are better things to do? When is the last time we sat down with family and played cards, cooked dinner, or just had a conversation without constant interruptions? Let’s take advantage of the situation and make our home and family lives better and more productive while we wait this out.
I understand: Who is this guy to lecture me on how I live my life? The answer is: I am no one. I am no one other than someone with an opinion and a platform that allows me to share that opinion. In today’s society, our instinct is to rebel against someone or some entity that attempts to control us or the way we live. I get it and I am no happier about this interruption to our lifestyle than any of you are. I also understand the gravity of what COVID-19 is doing to our way of life and if we hope to preserve it long term and get back to it in the shortest amount of time possible; we need to make the temporary sacrifices. Stay at home and crack open those bottles hiding way in the back of your cabinet or bunker and let’s enjoy some time at home until this blows over.
Cheers and stay safe out there!
