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Posted: 2021-09-03 03:33:17

An Adelaide Hills winery will become one of the first businesses in South Australia to require its patrons to be fully vaccinated.

Bird in Hand announced on social media that it intended to become a "completely vaccinated winery" by November 15.

A double dose of the vaccination will be required to enter the Woodside winery.

In a post on Facebook, the winery's founder Andrew Nugent said the decision was made to "protect the health and wellbeing of our family, staff, guests, and the wonderful Bird in Hand community".

"Let's help ourselves, our friends in lockdown in the eastern states, our wine, food, hospitality, and tourism partners by getting this done," he wrote.

South Australian wineries have previously been linked to COVID-19 outbreaks, including one in Adelaide's north that was deemed a "super-spreader site in July.

The decision has been polarising on social media, with the winery's posts attracting thousands of comments.

A wide angle image of green vineyards with buildings to the right
Bird in Hand's founder Andrew Nugent said mandating vaccinations would "protect the health and wellbeing" of staff and customers.(

ABC News: Lincoln Rothall

)

Mr Nugent wrote on Instagram that the responses were "all appreciated" and wished everyone well "regardless of differences".

"It is an individual choice to be vaccinated," he wrote.

"It is also a right and responsibility for individuals to be able to do what they believe to be in the best interests of their own personal environments.

"It is clear the Delta strain is now endemic in Australia.

"The decision has been made to help this community reduce death, pressure on our hospital system, loved ones dying alone, mental health issues, suicide, depression, domestic violence and the socio economic shock of longer, more frequent lockdowns."

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The winery's cellar door and restaurant has been closed since last September as it undergoes extensive renovations.

As the vaccination rollout gains momentum, businesses have offered incentives such as free drinks or discounts to encourage customers to roll up their sleeves but the decision to require full vaccination to enter is believed to be a state first.

'The first of many'

Adelaide Hills Wine Region president Jared Stringer told ABC Radio's Sonya Feldhoff that Bird in Hand was "probably the first of many" businesses to mandate vaccination for entry.

"This is the first [business] that I've heard that are doing this but it's certainly something that's front of mind for a lot of businesses," he said.

Mr Stringer said the Adelaide Hills Wine Region "wholeheartedly" supported the vaccine rollout, but said mandating vaccination for customers was up to each business — a decision that other wineries were also considering.

"We're seeing it more and more, particularly with the lockdowns that are really hurting businesses," he said.

Mr Stringer, the chief executive officer of The Lane Vineyard in Hahndorf and the former general manager of Bird in Hand, said hospitality businesses were "fronting up to customers who come from all walks of life and all different states".

"So we obviously want to make sure that we're offering a safe environment for everyone who comes to our businesses, whether that be for our staff or those customers," he said.

Woman drinking wine from a glass, in profile
Other wineries are also considering making vaccination mandatory for patrons.(

Unsplash: Alfonso Scarpa

)

Mr Stringer acknowledged mandating vaccination could drive some customers away, but said it would also draw others in.

"Everyone's entitled to their opinions and we've seen for months and months and months that this is a polarising issue, those who want to get vaccinated and those who don't," he said.

"And so I guess we stand by the fact that everyone is entitled to their opinions and everyone is entitled to get vaccinated or not and then therefore they are entitled to patron that winery or not.

"Obviously a lot of people are going to go there because they are going to feel safer if everyone's fully vaxxed and is visiting that winery, but then some that don't want to get vaccinated perhaps wont.

"So I think full credit to Bird in Hand for stepping forward and doing this but certainly it's been an interesting issue to watch unfold."

SA to stick with national modelling: Premier

The national plan to begin reopening once vaccination rates hit 70 to 80 per cent of the eligible adult population has left some premiers in states with low case numbers concerned.

Premier Steven Marshall wearing a high vis vest
South Australian Premier Steven Marshall said vaccinations were "our pathway out of statewide lockdowns".(

ABC News

)

South Australian Premier Steven Marshall said yesterday South Australia could not be "cut off from the rest of the world forever" and the state was "signed up to the Doherty model".

"I think we need to get the balance right in South Australia and I think what we've done in the past is listen to the experts, listened to science, listened to evidence and we've framed our response and I think that's put us in very good stead so far and we'll continue to do that into the future," he said.

Mr Marshall flagged an end to statewide border closures once vaccination rates reached 80 per cent of adults and a return to isolating hotspots in other states.

"We might lock out LGAs, specific exposure zones," he said.

"This is an approach we've had before, before the Delta strain and I think as we get up to that 80 per cent double vaccination level we significantly reduce the potential for transmission and that allows us to adopt a different strategy with regards to our state borders."

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