Ever since states around the country began requiring their residents to wear face coverings to prevent the spread to COVID-19, there have been those who refuse to wear them.

News 12 New Jersey’s Brian Donohue says that he does not see the difference between the mask-wearing rules and another rule one often sees posted outside of New Jersey businesses; “No Shirt, No Shoes, No Service.”

Donohue says that according to historians, the signs first appeared in the 1960s and 1970s as a way of keeping hippies out of businesses. But the rule soon became common practice.

Donohue says that he is often shirtless and shoeless, especially in his younger years, because he is an avid surfer. But he says that he and his fellow surfers never seemed to think that it was a big deal to put on a shirt or shoes when going into a business at the Jersey Shore. He says that no one ever seemed to consider it tyranny or a violation of their human rights – like so many who refuse to wear masks today seem to think.

Donohue says that wearing a shirt, shoes and even a mask is just common courtesy.

And one more thing, there is no statewide law requiring one to wear shoes inside of businesses, according to the Society of Barefoot Living. It is simply up to the business.