Garden centres are more essential than off-licences during lockdown

[Fev11]

Supermarkets already sell alcohol so why on earth are off licences listed as ‘essential’ during lockdown?

Plants and flowers, whether growing in a garden or on a windowsill or balcony have long been recognised as beneficial to mental health. Unlike off-licences, Garden centres could easily be adapted to be fully outdoor spaces.

My heart goes out to the growers who are having to throw out all their stock, who unlike many businesses who will still have their stock to sell when this is all over.

I think garden centres/nurseries are more essential during lockdown than off licences.

AIBU?

Agree. Terrible waste. People gardening and doing allotments is a positive and safe activity. Disastrous to force them to shut.

I agree. Plus, if this rumbles on for years, with the added complication of Brexit, we will struggle to get harvests picked. We need to get people growing veg if they can.

In theory I disagree.
Off licences often have random household and food things that would be a lifeline for some people. Plants and things, although lovely and calming aren't a necessity for survival
But I so we what you mean

Problem is, plantaholics rarely get smashy and angry if they can't get their fix. Avoiding civil unrest, innit? Lots of deprived urban areas won't have a supermarket in walking distance, but there will be an off licence on the corner.

I agree OP. People should be being encouraged to grow their own and plant bee friendly flowers. Thankfully I bought all we need before the shops shut as we eat a fair bit of home grown stuff and have planted way too much so I have plants to give away to help other people to start up a veg plot.

Yanbu. Well said.

If I had to choose, I would say encouraging people to exercise in their gardens is better than drinking themselves to oblivion

But we are a nation of functioning alcoholics

Neither, of course, is essential but such is our halfhearted lockdown: trash the economy and not even do lockdown properly with the test test test/identify/isolate that really makes the difference

Provided the cafes and random trinkets bits are closed, I completely agree. They could even open by appointment only, so that numbers can be controlled.

At this time, more people are keen to have a go at growing their own fruit and veg. I’m all for encouraging that.

YABU. Garden centres are not essential.

Neither are off-licenses; they shouldn’t be open either, but that’s a separate issue.

YABU. Most off licenses are more like convience shops. They are also meter top up points, which is probably the main reason why they are classified as essential.

Supermarkets also sell plants BTW.

I totally agree, but I think garden centres and growers should have quickly got together and put their case forward instead of accepting they have to close. My local garden centre is staying open for home delivery anyway.

Completely agree, although was astounded that off licences were considered essential. Gardening is a healthy, usually outdoor activity that keeps people at home for extended periods. I thought it would tick a lot of boxes.

Agree.

Its crazy to shut down garden centres, most of which are outside! Social distancing and good till management would mean they should be able to stay open.
L

I need gin more than I need a fucking gooseberry bush, if only to deal with the utter fuckwittery that seems to have infected the nation.

Supermarkets mostly sell ornamental plants. We don't need those. We need fruit & vegetable plants, seeds, tools etc.

Our local centres are trying to set up a delivery service, which is good.

Thinking about our two local garden centres, it would be a nightmare to have them open. They’re both down narrow lanes and access can be awful at busy times. I think hundreds would be queuing to get in and that would be a very bad thing.

Buy a blackthorn hedge and discover sloe gin.

If people are busy in their gardens then they are at home, fresh air, exercise and something that keeps someone home - seems like a win win to me! X

YABU. The garden centre is where bored people go every weekend, imagine what it would be like if that was the only place to go. It is not essential by any stretch of the imagination.

Problem is, plantaholics rarely get smashy and angry if they can't get their fix. Avoiding civil unrest, innit? Lots of deprived urban areas won't have a supermarket in walking distance, but there will be an off licence on the corner.

Definitely part of it, and as others have said they often sell other bits and have key meter top ups. The garden centre here is offering free home delivery for orders over £50, which is a lot but they don't usually deliver. They have also donated loads of plants to the schools, nurseries, childminders that are still open, and residential homes so they don't have as much wastage and gives something to do. They did want to leave some near the hospital for workers to take, but obviously there's issues with that!

There are many many alcoholics out there. Add to that the people who don't consider themselves to be reliant on alcohol but actually are.

You can't detox from alcohol addiction suddenly. A quick google will tell you that OP. I don't drink and even I know that.

Yes, supermarkets sell alcohol but are limiting sales. Keeping off licences open takes the pressure off supermarkets.

There could easily be a click and collect drive through at the garden centres.

Gardening outside is educational to DC and exercise for us.

I agree

I think there could have been a way to make it work but also a risk they’d have been rammed with vulnerable groups.

My neighbours over 70 keep nipping to the garden centre. Let's face it, customers potter snd browse there - least with an offie, you're in and out.

However, I don't think either should be open.