Covid-19: eating or drinking on a train will not really be prohibited

To curb the Omicron variant, the government decided on December 27 to take strong measures in places open to the public, with in particular the ban on eating or drinking on the spot: “The consumption of food and drink will be prohibited in all cinemas, theaters, sports facilities and public transport, including long distance “, declared Jean Castex. An announcement that had somewhat moved, in particular the section concerning long train journeys. Obviously, the government has decided to backtrack.

In the decree published on Saturday January 1, notably requiring children over 6 to wear a mask in many places, the measure is watered down. It is indicated that “the sale and the service for consumption on board of food and drinks are prohibited during the journeys within the metropolitan territory or one of the communities mentioned in article 72-3 of the Constitution”. But, according to information from Figaro, Matignon admitted that this ban would be applied “with discernment”, whether for “young children or fragile people”.

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Remain “pragmatic”

The difference is notable between this paragraph and that concerning auditoriums, cinemas or theaters, where “the sale and consumption of food and drink” are strictly prohibited. For his part, The Parisian also contacted Matignon, who confirmed to him that the government had wanted to show “discernment” and remain “pragmatic”. Hinting in passing that a total ban on eating on a train would be difficult to imagine.

Contacted in turn, the SNCF says that “it will not be allowed to remove the mask to consume food or drinks”. So how do you eat with the mask on? Here again, the argument of “discernment” seems to prevail. For the moment, everyone is passing the buck a little to each other, but the measurement of consumption in a train should be more flexible than expected.