Deaf and Dumb?

Isn't it annoying when you're in a bar or a club and you're trying to order a drink, but the bar staff can't hear you properly?

Well, just thank your lucky stars that the Royal National Institute for the Deaf aren't in government:

The Royal National Institute for Deaf People said staff working where loud music was played should get ear plugs.

Classic. It's such a stupid idea, I'm surprised it didn't come from the EU. Oh, hold on...

Under EU directives, firms have to ensure staff are protected where noise
exceeds 85 decibels.

Most clubs and some pubs and bars will exceed this, but the music and
entertainment industry has been given an exemption until next April.

And after that? Are we all to carry round note pads and pens to write down our orders and flash them to the staff? Or perhaps we could all learn sign language? Or, even better, perhaps people could realise that rather like staff working in pubs and having to deal with smoke, people are aware of the downsides of jobs when they take them. I can't imagine it coming across as a real shock to someone starting a job in a nightclub that they play loud music.

What next? Ear plugs for the clubbers as well? Don't laugh; with the EU you know it's a possibility...