AIBU to think in-store lottery should be suspended for the duration?

[42andcounting]

I work in a small shop and can't believe how many customers we have who are still popping in for solely lottery / scratch cards / newspaper / pop / sweets / crisps. Not as part of a food purchase, just on their own. We're way busier than normal, approx 60-70% of customers are what I'd call non essential purchases, are still paying in cash, and are not respecting the 2 metre distancing. Some are still popping in multiple times per day. They will continue to do this for as long as we are still selling lottery and the like, and because all similar business are still selling them, so is ours.

So, am I BU to think the government should now suspend these types of sales in store? Or am I a joyless fun sponge? Be brutal if you want, I'm looking for a reality check.

My local shop is still selling lottery tickets, but refusing to pay out on winners. Not quite sure how that works.

My mum said her local co op isnt selling them.

no needto be selling tickets right now.

Since the lottery makes grants to projects working in health, education and the environment and the charitable sector, it's definitely worth keeping at the moment. Our corner shop is great for tinned foods, sauces, etc and I might get a lottery ticket on top of that. Instead of banning the lotto, could your shop not have a notice whereby customers only buying non-essentials will not be served? I know some shops (bigger supermarkets tbf) are not serving customers with smaller shops

could your shop not have a notice whereby customers only buying non-essentials will not be served?

But this isn't the point, the point is that I have no doubt this situation is being replicated in corner shops all over the country, and relying on individual owners discretion / lack of self interest probably isn't going to cut it. Clear and direct instructions are the only way it will change.

Re the lottery funding for good causes, that's a good point. Maybe in the short term pressure could be brought to bear to move to online tickets only, with Camelot moving a greater part of their percentage profit to the good causes pot to compensate for any shortfall from loss of sales? Given that we're all supposed to be in this together.