Older people who do not have smartphones are ‘at risk of discrimination’ in pubs and restaurants, charity warns

A charity has warned that older drinkers who do not have smartphones to order food and drinks at pubs and restaurants are at risk of being discriminated against.

Lockdown restrictions are beginning to ease across the UK, with some pubs and restaurants introducing new measures to minimise contact with staff and reduce the spread of Covid, such as asking customers to order food and drink through online apps on their phone.

However, charity Age UK has said that these measures rule out half of those aged 65 to 74 and 70 per cent of the over-75s because they do not use smartphones.

In a report published last month, the charity found that while just under a quarter of over-75s in England have increased their internet usage since the pandemic began last March, most older online users say that their use has remained unchanged, with nearly one in 10 using the internet less.

David Walters, 78, told the Telegraph that the requirement to use an app in hospitality settings is “ageist”, after he was denied service at The Angel of Corbridge pub in Northumberland.

Mr Walters claimed he was told by staff that customers had to use an app to both order and submit contact details to NHS Test and Trace.