Look out for older customers in freezing weather, charity urges

The Licensed Trade Charity is calling on the trade not to forget people who may be at risk as the cold weather starts to bite, and points out that according to Age UK, during a normal winter, around one older person dies every seven minutes from cold weather, while many more become seriously ill.

The charity’s Liz Gaffer said: “As a hub of the community, pub teams this week will no doubt be asking customers how they are coping with the weather. The Licensed Trade Charity asks that pub teams particularly look out for customers they know are retired, and especially those living alone, to ask how they are faring with the weather and to notice if any of their regular customers don’t pop in. 

“We know how some people can be stoical and reluctant to admit if they are struggling or are lonely. Just getting the conversation going among other customers might prompt others to lend a helping hand to a vulnerable neighbour, in what looks like being a very cold week.”