Why are supermarkets allowed to open all day on Sunday now?

[Denise34]

Just been past Tesco and noticed that they are now open from 6am to midnight on sundays! Has there been a change in the law?

Its only during the Olympics and Paralymics.

Only til the Paralympics are over,I think

was it not temporarily changed due to the olympics

p.s. I am in Scotland and ours is open 24 hours a day 7 days a week

I think it's only happening during the Olympics. I noticed something on a news website (BBC?), just before the Olympics started, about this. I imagine it will carry on until the Paralympics have finished and then they have to go back to normal Sunday trading.

I don't see why they have to. It should be down to the owner not the government

The ones that count as 'locals' can also open late, under the old rules that go back to when local shops were your corner shop doing pints of milk and so on, but lots of supermarkets near us count as 'local' and are actually pretty big, so you could do your weekly shop there. I guess it's become a loophole, but it's very convenient.

I think the one near us is one of the biggest in the country, can't see it being classed as local.

Shops under a certain square footage can open whenever they want.
How it has been changed for larger stores until paralypics are over.
Personally I think Ts a weird and silly rule.

Just found the link from the BBC News website www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18942729

It is due to the Olympics and a relax of the Sunday trading laws. I work in retail and to me Sunday is just another day of the week.

I think they should not open on sundays.

Is there a reason you feel that way?

shops over 3,000sqft are usually restricted to 6 hours on a sunday

the gift shop in the olymic park is bigger than this so under normal rules would of had to shut after 6 hours so they have lifted the rules until September 9th

I work in retail and we are praying it's not a permanent change!

I think it's nice there's one day when shops don't open late, because it means there's less traffic around the area, a bit of a rest on the floodlit car parks, etc. etc. But then it's convenient and we're all working much longer hours than people did a few generations ago, so maybe it is necessary. I think having small ones open is a good compromise.

I didn't realise you still had Sunday trading down south. How quaint.

It's brilliant.

Why Denise34? I can't understand why the law should restrict any shop from opening whenever they like on a Sunday. Bizarre.

Tit I agree it all seems very quaint!

Sunday should be the day of rest. It should be a family day.

Don't like supermarkets muscling out smaller stores, but not keen on superstitious Sunday bollocks either, so,...meh, really.

Don't likey, don't go in 'em.

Why, denise? And what if you don't have family?

I think part of the reason it's good local shops open Sundays is that, if someone is elderly and living alone, popping out for a pint of milk could be their only interaction with someone else all day. I know my neighbour will never let me go buy her milk for that reason - she doesn't mind the walk, she just wants to go and stand in a queue and have a natter.

Denise if you needed medical treatment you would want nurses and doctors working.

Not every one is off work Sunday

Can't believe you still have restrictions on Sunday trading down south. I could never get used to your licensing rules in pubs either.

I wish shops weren't open on a Sunday and so much over the festive period. Not for religious reasons, but because I think it's a shame for people who work in retail (I used to). Although our lives are busier and we work longer hours I think we should be able to manage with 6 days 24hrs open, and then let everyone have a break. If I were PM I would also want businesses to close for three days over Christmas and three days over new year. Again, so that everyone could have a proper break. A little less work and a little more life please!!

I sound old don't I?

Yes, lots of people have to work on Sundays. I'd like shop opening hours to be completely free of restrictions.

That's true, although it's convenient I find something depressing about supermarkets around Christmas.

You don't sound old, btw, my parents who still believe you can't shop on Sunday sound old!