Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Do you allow things to be eaten before paying?

532 replies

georgousbold · 21/03/2022 11:54

In a supermarket etc

When I walk around, I do open something to keep DS quiet. Works a treat.

Nobody has ever told me off or questioned me on it

Is this the done thing in the UK? Can think of a few countries it would be allowed in and nobody would say anything

But you could never do that in Japan for example, South Korea either

OP posts:
TypicaIMe · 21/03/2022 14:42

No. Its stealing.

A PP explained why it's not.

Whatever your views on how proper it is or isn't, it's not theft unless you don't intend to pay for it.

MonkeyPuddle · 21/03/2022 14:44

Yeah, the obesity issue is deffo caused by a toddler eating an apple in a trolley.

I’ve seen less overreactions of breastmilk/formula feeding threads.

Franklin12 · 21/03/2022 14:45

Its very rarely an apple.....its 90% of the time crisps and chocolate.

internetpersonme · 21/03/2022 14:45

No. But I will do now I know how horrified people are by a child gnawing on a bread roll

MonkeyPuddle · 21/03/2022 14:46

@Franklin12 not my kids

TypicaIMe · 21/03/2022 14:46

@Franklin12

Its very rarely an apple.....its 90% of the time crisps and chocolate.
And your evidence for this is...?
WeatherwaxOn · 21/03/2022 14:46

No, never done this. If DC was particularly hungry, I'd go and buy a piece of fruit/snack at the start, and then they could eat it as we completed the shopping.

HomeHomeInTheRange · 21/03/2022 14:47

Never did it, never would do it.

Wouldn’t want Dc to think it was OK.

Probably I was lucky: plenty to interest kids while shopping and they were kept occupied with chatting with me or ‘helping.

Until old enough to be told to behave, and provide proper help.

sofakingcool · 21/03/2022 14:48

@icedancerlenny

No. What sort of example does this set? It’s disgusting and it’s disrespectful to the supermarket staff.
Absolutely agree, i wouldn't do it on the basis that I wouldn't want my children to think it's acceptable.
Blimecory · 21/03/2022 14:48

@TypicaIMe

No. Its stealing.

A PP explained why it's not.

Whatever your views on how proper it is or isn't, it's not theft unless you don't intend to pay for it.

It doesn’t matter whether you intend to pay for it or not, it’s technically theft. www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/18766027.supermarket-habit-illegal-uk/
RichTeaRichTea · 21/03/2022 14:49

“ Lockdown was meant to be limited visits to supermarkets, one person at a time, not the usual families coming en masse.”

And on other threads it’s all, take children about with you whilst doing everyday activities and teach them how to do things, they need exposure to normal activities, learning through observing you, and so on. Another conundrum

Almost as though mothers are always in the wrong, however they go about things

LoisGriffinskitchen · 21/03/2022 14:50

We don't and never have allowed it but I don't judge anyone else who decides differently.

Tesco even has a fruit basket at the front for children to take from. It stopped during lockdown but I've noticed it has started ads in near me.

TypicaIMe · 21/03/2022 14:50

@Franklin12

No wonder we have an obesity problem in the UK if people cannot even go around a supermarket without stuffing themselves or their kids with food on demand .
Some posters on MN will use anything as proof of the 'obesity crisis'.

Child eats an apple in Sainsbury's? OBESITY CRISIS

DH eat two sausage rolls for lunch? OBESITY CRISIS

Woman makes a massive salad with two whole tomatoes and eats it in one go rather than sharing it among her extended family? OBESITY CRISIS

RichTeaRichTea · 21/03/2022 14:51

“ Probably I was lucky: plenty to interest kids while shopping and they were kept occupied with chatting with me or ‘helping. ”

Nah, you’ll have been the subject of a “loud parenting” thread on here for sure. You don’t like seeing eating in the supermarket, others don’t like hearing parents and children interacting, etc etc

Ozanj · 21/03/2022 14:55

You can do this in Japan and South Korea but not as a foreigner in a tourist area because shopkeepers are often stricter with non-language speakers if not blatently racist. In a local area Shopkeepers will be encouraging you to feed kids first and pay later.

TokenGinger · 21/03/2022 14:56

Sometimes I do with DS, yes.

For plenty of valid reasons which I won't bore people with, he's a terrible eater. One thing he really does love is the fruit pouches from the baby aisle. When I put those into the trolley and he is with me, he inevitably asks for a fruit pouch. Because of his troublesome eating, we do not refuse him food ever, because it's rare he actually asks for something to eat.

I always have 3-4 pouches in my bag, so it's not a case of not bringing adequate snacks for him, but on the occasion I did give him pouches from his bag, I was challenged about the empty wrappers at the till and asked to pay for them and made to feel a bit of a criminal whilst trying to show proof he carries some in his bag, so now I decide it's just easier to give him the ones I am buying and pay for the wrapper at the end to avoid any confusion.

gogohm · 21/03/2022 14:57

Not generally but I have a stem food myself, feeling faint and low blood sugar I needed to eat and/or drink. I've always paid for it of course though once the man at Tesco's ushered me into the back and gave me a seat because he could see I was going to faint, refused to let me pay

RB68 · 21/03/2022 14:59

No I have never done it and wouldn't encourage it, i might put in a trolley and say wait till we have paid if I know she was just being greedy ie had not long eaten or had a snack. If I knew she was hungry I would a) try not to be shopping without having a snack for her b) buy a snack and then do the shop - you can pay for things at the cigarette/papers counter so grabbing a drink or snack and paying there before the big shop isn't really a hardship

stuntbubbles · 21/03/2022 15:00

@MonkeyPuddle

Yeah, the obesity issue is deffo caused by a toddler eating an apple in a trolley.

I’ve seen less overreactions of breastmilk/formula feeding threads.

What about a glorious love child of the two topics: is it OK to give your trolley toddler some formula from the shelf before you’ve paid for it?
fullofpips · 21/03/2022 15:02

@stuntbubbles or breastfeed while walking round the shop GrinWink

Susu49 · 21/03/2022 15:03

@TypicaIMe

No. Its stealing.

A PP explained why it's not.

Whatever your views on how proper it is or isn't, it's not theft unless you don't intend to pay for it.

That pp is wrong.

A shop isn't a restaurant. Until you've paid for it, it doesn't belong to you and it is stealing.

Viviennemary · 21/03/2022 15:05

I think it is appallingly rude and entitled. I would never do it.

stuntbubbles · 21/03/2022 15:09

@fullofpips Ideally by “flopping one out” and “baring an entire breast” like the “breastapo”. But you’d have to eat something from the shelves before paying for it yourself to get full bingo.

Blimecory · 21/03/2022 15:10

“Buying a product at the till is what transfers the ownership from the product belonging to the shopkeeper, to it belonging to you. And only when that sale is complete do you have the legal right to consume or use it. If you eat the chocolate before you legally own it, you are permanently depriving the owner of his right to the product – he can no longer refuse you the sale or take the item off the shelves.”

It’s completely illegal.

sillysmiles · 21/03/2022 15:11

@Franklin12

Its very rarely an apple.....its 90% of the time crisps and chocolate.
I always think bread rolls. I wouldn't give a small child an apple to eat in a trolly because it's too easy for it to slip from their fingers - but bread roll = easy for LOs to eat
Swipe left for the next trending thread