We ate out last night at an exclusive, expensive, little restaurant last night which is normally out of our range but the lack of eating out over the last 6 months has meant we have a bit more spare cash. It was lovely but highly calorific as it was full of fat and sugar and we ate far more than we usually would. It was an experience but, quite honestly, I came out thinking that a MacDonalds would have been healthier.
I think the point of the scheme was more about encouraging people to put their anxieties about Covid behind them so they started using places again so that businesses, small or large, could start to return to normal. Once you entice them into something that looks like a bargain, they relax about using shops, etc. It is the snowball effect the Government are seeking not just eateries.
Many international businesses aren't as rich as you would think. They often have high overheads, debt from expansion programmes and are dependant on their share price to keep going. They are more vulnerable than we think. I am not denying they are exploitative, tax avoiding businesses but that is a completely different issue.