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Original poster

How long before fuel rationing?

362 replies

Bettercallsalli · 31/03/2026 15:12

A lot of talk of possible fuel rationing here if this conflict continues.
Will Airlines be able to cope? It does seem inevitable now.

OP posts:
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11
Coconutter24 · 31/03/2026 15:49

ILoveDaffodills · 31/03/2026 15:47

Exactly, but you'd can explain it to people, you can't understand it for them! 🙇🏻‍♀️

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It just brings out the selfishness in some people

DdraigGoch · 31/03/2026 15:47

Rileysp · 31/03/2026 15:25

Our supply isn’t reliant on Middle East.

we’ll have to pay more for regular supply, but I don’t think we’ll need ration so long as people are sensible

so long as people are sensible

That's us fucked then

ILoveDaffodills · 31/03/2026 15:47

Coconutter24 · 31/03/2026 15:42

No, that doesn’t make sense. That is what is causing most of the problems!! Fuel stations running out of fuel because people are panic buying extra fuel, topping up more regular leading to a shortage at garages who then close pumps until they have another delivery. It makes sense to just buy fuel as you normally would. If everyone did that there wouldn’t be shortages

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Exactly, but you'd can explain it to people, you can't understand it for them! 🙇🏻‍♀️

Original poster
Bettercallsalli · 31/03/2026 15:46

ILoveDaffodills · 31/03/2026 15:44

It's not crazy to want to see your family over a long bank holiday weekend or have days out

🙄🙇🏻‍♀️🙇🏻‍♀️🙄🙇🏻‍♀️

Edited
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Well it kind of is if there is no fuel to get you there or back. People will be filling up loads now this is in the news so it will be chaos by Friday.

OP posts:
ThatCyanCat · 31/03/2026 15:45

Nobody ever thinks they're panic buying. During Covid there were plenty of people who insisted they weren't panic buying because they were very calm while putting 50 toilet rolls and 40 bottles of handwash into their shopping trolleys.

L00pyL00p · 31/03/2026 15:45

Coconutter24 · 31/03/2026 15:42

No, that doesn’t make sense. That is what is causing most of the problems!! Fuel stations running out of fuel because people are panic buying extra fuel, topping up more regular leading to a shortage at garages who then close pumps until they have another delivery. It makes sense to just buy fuel as you normally would. If everyone did that there wouldn’t be shortages

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It’s also dangerous.

ILoveDaffodills · 31/03/2026 15:44

Bettercallsalli · 31/03/2026 15:35

Well both. But if no Diesel then people won't be going far i assume.

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It's not crazy to want to see your family over a long bank holiday weekend or have days out

🙄🙇🏻‍♀️🙇🏻‍♀️🙄🙇🏻‍♀️

Coconutter24 · 31/03/2026 15:42

Ablondiebutagoody · 31/03/2026 15:22

Makes sense to fill up a few jerry cans if you have them and keep the car brimmed.

Driving on the M25 on Sunday, signs were saying no HGV fuel on the M3. Local Shell garage only has 2 pumps working rather than 10.

Edited

No, that doesn’t make sense. That is what is causing most of the problems!! Fuel stations running out of fuel because people are panic buying extra fuel, topping up more regular leading to a shortage at garages who then close pumps until they have another delivery. It makes sense to just buy fuel as you normally would. If everyone did that there wouldn’t be shortages

ILoveDaffodills · 31/03/2026 15:42

randomchap · 31/03/2026 15:35

I didn't realise the local councils controlled the international oil markets...

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🤣🤣

intrepidpanda · 31/03/2026 15:40

ILoveDaffodills · 31/03/2026 15:33

Crazy traffic?? Like people travelling to see their families? Or days out?

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Yes. We should be doing essential journeys as far as possible at the moment and reigning in consumption.

CrocusesFlowering · 31/03/2026 15:39

@IAxolotlQuestions
I can’t do links on my phone but if you search for ‘NHS medical supplies Iran war, it’s covered on several newspaper websites.

IAxolotlQuestions · 31/03/2026 15:36

CrocusesFlowering · 31/03/2026 15:28

The NHS is days away from running out of some medical supplies according to Sir Jim Mackey its CEO.

Where can I find details?

REDB99 · 31/03/2026 15:36

Ablondiebutagoody · 31/03/2026 15:22

Makes sense to fill up a few jerry cans if you have them and keep the car brimmed.

Driving on the M25 on Sunday, signs were saying no HGV fuel on the M3. Local Shell garage only has 2 pumps working rather than 10.

Edited

This is stupid advice and is what leads to shortages. People should just buy fuel as they usually do, if the demand rises due to people topping up constantly and filing jerry cans this is what leads to shortages.

Don’t be one of the idiots who doesn’t understand the basic concept of panic buying.

Original poster
Bettercallsalli · 31/03/2026 15:35

ILoveDaffodills · 31/03/2026 15:33

Crazy traffic?? Like people travelling to see their families? Or days out?

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Well both. But if no Diesel then people won't be going far i assume.

OP posts:
randomchap · 31/03/2026 15:35

Movinginthesunlight · 31/03/2026 15:30

We all really need to make an informed decision when it comes to upcoming local elections i.e. who is pushing net zero and not supporting to drill in our North Sea!

I didn't realise the local councils controlled the international oil markets...

HowDoYouSolveAProblemLikeMyRear · 31/03/2026 15:34

Ablondiebutagoody · 31/03/2026 15:22

Makes sense to fill up a few jerry cans if you have them and keep the car brimmed.

Driving on the M25 on Sunday, signs were saying no HGV fuel on the M3. Local Shell garage only has 2 pumps working rather than 10.

Edited

Even leaving aside the moral problem with panic buying, you could be breaking the law if you don't have a suitable place to store it.

ILoveDaffodills · 31/03/2026 15:33

Bettercallsalli · 31/03/2026 15:28

I think this long Bank holiday weekend will cause some disruption with the usual crazy traffic .

Crazy traffic?? Like people travelling to see their families? Or days out?

TheWildZebra · 31/03/2026 15:32

Movinginthesunlight · 31/03/2026 15:30

We all really need to make an informed decision when it comes to upcoming local elections i.e. who is pushing net zero and not supporting to drill in our North Sea!

North Sea oil is sold on the international market, not domestically. It wouldn’t make a jot of difference to our situation. See this briefing by energy experts who track these things for a living :

https://www.smithschool.ox.ac.uk/news/drill-baby-drill-approach-north-sea-would-cost-households-more-fully-renewable-uk-finds-oxford

ETA it is bizarre to me that folks recommend MORE investment in fossil fuels when that reliance is exactly what creates vulnerability in our societies anyway. NS is a maturing (read emptying) oil and gas field, and we’d have to look internationally for our supplies after a few years again anyway.

May as well produce the energy domestically and renewably, so we actually have control over supply and prices.

“Drill baby drill” approach to North Sea would cost households more than a fully renewable UK, finds Oxford analysis

A UK powered fully by renewable energy could save all households up to £441 a year on their energy bills, according to a new Oxford Smith School analysis. In comparison, maximising oil & gas extraction from the North Sea would save households a modest...

https://www.smithschool.ox.ac.uk/news/drill-baby-drill-approach-north-sea-would-cost-households-more-fully-renewable-uk-finds-oxford

ILoveDaffodills · 31/03/2026 15:31

MrsTerryPratchett · 31/03/2026 15:26

Panic buying and making your car more flammable?

I genuinely despair.

Panic buying just a small amount of any resource CAUSES shortages. If everyone just kept their shit together, tried to be frugal, and rode it out, we wouldn't have problems.

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Exactly!!

IAxolotlQuestions · 31/03/2026 15:31

Winteriscoming80 · 31/03/2026 15:21

Tesco and Sainsbury’s near me haven’t had any fuel for 3 days now,obviously there are other fuel stations but they were the cheapest.

That’s because people are panicking, so it’s messing with the normal supply logistics.

Eventually the govt might have to impose controls, but that’ll most likely be a response to the panic buying, and done to ensure the ambulances, police and HGVs can keep moving.

TheWildZebra · 31/03/2026 15:30

Here’s the stats: only 12% of the UKs fuel comes through Hormuz. Any shortages are as a result of scaremongering and panic buying as previous posters have suggested

https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2025-06-30/63638/#:~:text=Just%20under%2012%20per%20cent,jet%20fuel%20and%20white%20diesel.

ILoveDaffodills · 31/03/2026 15:30

Eightdayz · 31/03/2026 15:25

You're the reason other morons panic buy.

Weird flex to admit to mega selfish behaviour. Its not a good look tbh

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Not to mention the stupidity of storing fuel at home!

Original poster
Bettercallsalli · 31/03/2026 15:30

And people can panic buy Diesel all they want but once it's gone and the pumps are dry then that"s it i guess.

OP posts:
Movinginthesunlight · 31/03/2026 15:30

We all really need to make an informed decision when it comes to upcoming local elections i.e. who is pushing net zero and not supporting to drill in our North Sea!

CrocusesFlowering · 31/03/2026 15:30

The IMF have warned today that the UK is a country facing one of the largest energy shocks.