Serving Chopsticks Need Compulsory Support

Put on your mask. Go out less. Wash your hands regularly, Sterilize frequently. Every citizen has followed these rules for about one year. But there is one significant thing that most of us neglect and break it nearly every single day. And, of course, the quality of its implement will partly determine the efficiency of the war against Covid-19. It is called “using serving chopsticks”.

Serving chopsticks, or a second pair of chopsticks, are exclusively utensils used by all people around the table. It is traditionally universal for Chinese people to gather together enjoying tasty food with one picking up choice morsels and placing them in another person’s bowls as an expression of affection. However, this mealtime manner is not being advisable now. And the control of the situation is certainly an issue of government. According to the report conducted by National Health Commission, if it is chosen by the majority, it is supposed to cut off around 30% of bacteria transmission, which is conductive to block person-to-person lines.

Once, there was a campaign to advocate using serving chopsticks on every dinner table under the influence of hepatitis A and SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome). But then with disease prevention and control situation getting brighter, coupled with strong culture inertia, the awareness of using serving chopsticks was worn off.

Now, state news agencies are calling it back, naming it “dining table revolution.” Dr. Zhong Nanshan and Dr. Zhang Wenhong, outspoken infectious disease experts who have become celebrities since the start of the outbreak, have voiced their support. The authorities across the country are running advertisements with slogans like: “The distance between you and civilized dining is just one pair of serving chopsticks.” Some restaurants and dinners have heeded the call. They are offering discounts to customers who use serving chopsticks. However, the approach does not seem to be working.

Most Chinese people consider the request for another pair of serving chopsticks to be embarrassing and bothersome. Tools separation sometimes means mind separation in certain culture background. Therefore, finding an approach to overcoming this culture barricade matters a lot. What’s more, the exceptional supply of serving chopsticks sharply increases excess cost of the restaurant owners, including the expenses of labor and tools. Keeping the cost as low as possible is also imperative for them. But nurturing a mealtime manner habit within a short time benefits not only every individual’s health but the big-picture thinking of Covid-19.

Given the fact that sharing food is an ingrained habit in terms of Chinese people, it is unlikely to change this mealtime style naturally and spontaneously in a short time. Therefore, compulsive administrative order that everybody under any gathering circumstances must serve with a second chopsticks is not a bad option; instead it would be reasonable in current anti-virus air. Anyone who does not obey the rules would face fines depending on its severity. Of course, there is no easy way for its implementation. The whole course will be viewed as a test for our civilization.

From the perspective of business operators, more preferential tax and subsidy policy should be launched making up for their excess costs. On the other hand, there must be some massive publicity to make it clear that serving chopsticks is a healthy and civilized mealtime method and thus requiring every individual’s participation. A table-related revolution should be put on the first agenda to strengthen our prevention and control achievements.

This commentary reflects the author’s personal opinion and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Global Engagement Academy Shandong University (Weihai).

Yuan Weilin undergraduate student, University of International Relations.

袁玮琳，国际关系学院本科生