To want to walk barefoot in the summer (including into shops)

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I don't understand why in this country it is considered so bad to be barefoot, I have been told I am not allowed to walk into Tescos barefoot, or Waitrose, they claim it is a 'health and safety issue' because something might fall on my feet. Well if that is the case shouldn't they be banning flip-flops too? Flip-flops are pretty dangerous things really, accountable for many broken toes, ankles and feet in the summer. I have a friend who broke his ankle so badly it was like he had been in a car accident and all he had done is twisted wearing flip-flops.

So why the intolerance to bare feet? They have been outside the same as shoes so it can't be a hygiene thing and they are much safer than flip-flops.

I am sick of having to have shoes in the car just so I can walk into shops, it makes no sense to me, if I want to be barefoot I should be allowed to be!

Well, no one will stop you walking barefoot in the street, but if shop ownerss don't want shoeless/shirtless/trouserless/whatever -less people, they are entitled to enforce the rule.

Just do all of your shopping at these fabled street markets I hear so much about on here.

Most of the time the UK is too wet or cold for bare feet to be much fun. I suppose that's why it's less common.

I can't think of anything more grim than walking barefoot around a supermarket. If there is anything spilled on the floor you would walk through it. And if the floor was at all wet you would risk slipping and falling. I only like to be barefoot at home where I know what is on the ground or on the beach. The rest of the time it is shoes on for me.

YANBU, I spend as much time as possible barefoot, as do our DC's.

Yes it doesn't seem to be a problem abroad at all.

I agree they have every right to enforce said rules but I would feel a lot better if I understood why they are enforcing them. I just don't see the difference between being barefoot or wearing flip-flops other than flip-flops are really damaging for you.

You are free to walk round like that, just not on someone's property if they declare you cannot.

Surely there's only about two weeks per year when it's suitable? Don't your feet get chilly?

Ploppy I have issues now the boys are at nursery, I took them in this morning and I was pulled to one side and sternly asked why my youngest didn't have shoes on. I looked at my own bare feet and announced that it was summer, it was hot and there is no need for us to wear shoes unless we are going to work or going into a supermarket. I have asked them to allow him to be as barefoot as possible. We are barefoot at home always, yes the concrete is a bit hard to begin with but you get used to it really quickly and can find that there is no need for shoes at all for 3 months of the year.

If everyone walked around barefoot we'd all end up with verrucas and fungal infections within a week.

Do you really want to walk on other people's foot fungus?

I can't even stand wearing sandals on our local pavements because my feet end up gritty, sore and filthy. I'll stick with the sturdy footwear, thanks.

Possible health and safety for store owners.

If you stand on a broken bottle in their store in shoes the likelihood is you won't get an injury. In bare feet different story. They would then be liable.

I'd be worried about cutting my feet on something on the ground to be honest. And I like the cushioning shoes provide.

Plus I don't really like the idea of walking barefoot where a billion others have also put their sweaty feet. Doesn't really appeal.

I didn't realise I was uptight til I realised reading this that I don't even go barefoot at home

I suspect it's a health and safety thing in case someone runs your foot over with a trolley or something. Yes, it would hurt nearly as much with flip flops but I guess it's easier to enforce a 'must have foot wear' rule than to specify exactly what's suitable or not.

I think you're making a bit of a big deal though... I love going barefoot and do it around the house and garden constantly, and also out walking occasionally if its clear comfortable terrain... But your average street and supermarket- yeuch no way, my feet are too precious for all the nasties I might step in

I think that fungus and verrucas would struggle to get through the skin on my feet tbh, in 10 years of barefoot walking I have never had an issue with infections on my feet, apart from after I used the birthing pool for my frst son and didn't moisturise properly afterwards, then my feet cracked quite horribly which was not good. Fine now though and definitely at their healthiest in the summer when they are not in sweaty shoes all day.

I do wear shoes for running but I am saving up for some of those barefoot running shoes.

I think if I were 'making a big deal' I would be going into supermarkets with my big barefeet regardless. I thought about tattooing a sandel on. That would get interesting results.

I'm of the same mind as you, OP. I would love to be barefoot most of the time. (I have pets with sharp teeth and claws, so do have to don boots with them, but otherwise like to have my feet unclad)

I assume it's mostly health and safety related - tiny bits of broken glass in the bottom of trainers are less likely to cause harm than tiny bits of broken glass in bare feet. Also the slipping thing that littlewhitebag mentioned.

I don't think you're being unreasonable, but personally it's not high on my list of things to get annoyed about.

My youngest DD refuses shoes 99% of the time. Nursery are happy for her to be barefoot and so am I. When we walked through town last week we were stopped 9 times in 35 minutes to ask where DDs shoes were. My reply of 'you are lucky she is wearing clothes' got some looks of and I'm waiting for someone to report me to the health visitor because 'We know who you are dearie and I wonder what the health visitor will say?'

I go bare foot as much as possible but I'd draw the line at in shops or out and about. At home/in the garden I am always bare foot and I will often take my shoes off in the park in summer but not when walking about, it's nice when on the grass watching the DCs play though.

Op have you ever had a supermarket trolley catch or run over your toes with no shoes on. Try it and see how you feel about shopping bare foot after that.
I would be mortified if I injured someone's foot whilst shopping.
I broke two toes a while back whilst bare foot in my house. It was so so painful for weeks. I always wear so etching on my feet now.

I can remember running down our drive barefoot, when I was about 5 or 6. I tripped and ended up with a really badly wounded big toe. There was a massive piece of skin hanging off, it was pouring with blood and was full of grit. Ever since then I have had my feet firmly in shoes!

I'd hate to walk on filthy pavements and shop floors with no shoes on tbh.

blueberry my husband went and got a food parcel once and they offered him shoes, they were so adamant that he needed shoes! He said 'no I have plenty at home' but they still really tried to push a pair of shoes on him. People think it is really unusual for someone to be without shoes in this country, in most other countries it is completely normal.

Flip flops at least protect the soles of your feet, so there is a difference. And the soles of the feet bleed like mad, so injuries to them are pretty serious.

But mostly, it's cultural. People in the UK object to bare feet, as this thread shows. Whether or not it is rational, it is the attitude of the majority and that is what most commercial entities will conform to. Unless you promote hip-hop gigs, you're unlikely to get rich rocking the boat.

Non issue?

Be barefoot if that floats your boat, but if someone wants you to put shoes on while on their property then that is what you need to do.

Move to NZ, OP! It's the only place where I've seen people walking barefoot through the city centre. And not just in summer. Crazy.

Hmmm lets see...

Glass, needles, open cuts on the feet and standing on spit or shit..or any other manner of disease ridden things that could be on the floor..

Other people treading on your feet.. slipping and falling..

Put some bloody shoes on and stop being silly.