The new public health and community service campaign Check.Check.Check.has been launched across New South Wales, by the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA).
The campaign aims to reach over four million urban patrons, particularly young ‘going out’ consumers, and has been backed by venues and operators across the state.
Check.Check.Check. adopts a ‘Slip, Slop, Slap’ style in encouraging the community to play their part to stay COVID-safe in venues with a new ‘going out’ routine:
- CHECK in with their correct details at the door
- CHECK their hands by regularly washing and sanitising
- Keep themselves and friends safe by keeping physical distance ‘in CHECK’
Michael Rodrigues, Chair of the NTIA, said: “In the same way venues are prepping for customers before they arrive, punters need to establish new rituals when they get to their favourite local. Similar to Slip, Slop, Slap, when leaving the house it’s ‘wallet, phone and keys’ and then at a venue it’s check in, check your hands and check yourself.”
The campaign is supported by the Independent Bars Association (IBA), and calls on the public to share the responsibility for staying COVID-safe with venues, to help ensure NSW isn’t hit with a second lockdown.
IBA President, Karl Schlothauer, told The Shout: “The Check, Check, Check campaign is a great initiative on many fronts. It shows that as an industry we are organised and ready to tackle COVID head on and it gives consumers peace of mind to come back out to support our venues.
“Importantly, we hope it gives government confidence to ease restrictions for our venues, seeing consumers and industry work together to reduce the risk of community transmission. This is great campaign and has been mobilised for all Independent Bars Association members.”
Paul Waterson, the CEO of Australian Venue Co, is also backing the campaign, saying that the alternative of a second lockdown definitely needs to be avoided.
“It’s a challenging period for patrons and venues across NSW,” Waterson told The Shout.
“The NTIA campaign is a fun way to let patrons know that by working together we can keep our industry open and operating in a safe way.
“Being a Victorian I can tell you that the alternative to operating in COVID-safe manner is a rolled gold disaster. If we all work together we will get through this and keep our great industry going.”
Check.Check.Check. will come to life through a range of mediums including in-venue signage, sanitiser bottles, coasters, stickers, social media and community service announcements.
New South Wales Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney, Stuart Ayres, also backed the campaign saying it helps remind people that going out does require us all to think about the new normal.
“2020 has changed the world around us, it doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy our favourite forms of entertainment but it does mean our behaviours have to adapt and be more COVID safe,” the Minister said.
“The Check.Check.Check. campaign is all about reinforcing those new normal behaviours that help reduce the spread of COVID, keeps us safe and allows us to safely enjoy the things we know and love.”
See the campaign’s video here:
Image credit: Cassandra Hannagan