Greenfield Bar Makes Saturday Masks Optional Amid Backlash

Last Ditch Bar in Greenfield, Massachusetts, made masks optional on Saturday nights in a bid to attract customers, prompting criticism and boycott calls from some community members as the business faced reported financial strain. The bar said masks remained required on other days. The scale of any boycott and its effect on revenue have not been established. The bar announced the change on August 31, saying it wanted to try typical club nights. Before the update, patrons were required to wear a well-fitted KN95 mask or better while inside. The change drew negative comments on social media, with some critics objecting that it could put disabled and immunocompromised people at risk. Others called for a boycott. Last Ditch later apologized for the tone of its announcement, saying it was sorry for its passive and dismissive approach to a change affecting community members. The apology also drew criticism because the post lacked alt text, a written description that can make visual content more accessible to people using screen readers. A community meeting was held at the bar on September 11, with some participants joining online. Reports say the meeting ended without a resolution.