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?

There’s been a sudden massive interest in gardening because people are stuck at home. It’s exercise in the fresh air which is healthy when people are trapped in the house, and it’s socially distant because you stay in your own garden. I have no idea why it isn’t being encouraged.

Sadly the situation has led to thefts because there’s a market for garden items due to garden centres being closed. People are nicking bags of compost because they can flog it on Facebook for a tenner a bag to a mum who’s desperate for an outdoor activity for her kids or an old couple who are desperate for a cheery pot of flowers. Someone has actually dug up daffodils from my mum’s front lawn.

Our local garden centre is closed to the public but is doing deliveries, godsend to a lot of my elderly relatives self isolating and will hopefully keep their business ticking over. Those who have to self isolate for 12 weeks need something to do to keep mentally well. Feel for those who don't have any outdoor space though.

My local off licence doubles as a grocer. A generic shut down would cut people off from essentials, and would have to be done case by case - a massive waste of time in the circumstances.

I think garden centres could have made themselves a good case, and also they can be managed a lot more safely than supermarkets. It was up to them to do so.

It's not an either-or situation.

You can often walk to an off license. You generally need to drive to a garden centre. They are trying to keep cars off the roads.

Our local garden centre is closed but doing deliveries. It's a real shame for the village it's in as it is also their local shop and post office.

I also don’t agree, because off licences sell utility top ups and take the pressure off of super markets, when people just wish to top up their electricity for example, or buy some booze.

I don’t think it’s a competition, and I also don’t understand why garden centres are throwing away their stock. We have only been shut down a week and a half, and likely might be for another month. Why can’t they keep their plants alive for six weeks?

YABU. Almost anyone can drink, not everyone has a garden. Certainly there is more need for regular access to alcohol than there is for regular access to a garden centre. Gardening is a choice, a hobby, a privilege, alcohol is a necessity.

I agree. Most plant centres sell herbs and vegetables, seeds and soil, equipment for home growing. All of which would be helpful in a food or supply shortage. Great exercise to plant a garden and a perfect activity for children. They should be open.

I agree garden centres should stay open but you can't compare it to off licences.

There are a huge amount of alcohol dependent people in the UK and for some, sudden withdrawal can bring life-threatening complications which would then lead to them needing medical intervention which is the last thing the NHS needs right now.

It doesn’t have to be an either or though! Plenty of people want to tend their garden then enjoy a nice bottle of wine!
I completely agree re:garden centres but don’t see why off licenses have to close instead?!

I don’t need a garden centre myself but the thought of all those plants going to waste makes me feel quite sad really

Hmm, in my limited experience of them, garden centres are full of children and the elderly, socialising, eating etc.

Most people I know are trying to order plants, seeds etc online and they are sold out, so people are obviously managing to get garden stuff.

Plus, I wish everyone would stop banging on about how everyone needs to start growing their own veg. Many people don't have the privilege of a garden or the time to do so.

Agreed. They need to follow the same social distancing rules that supermarkets have installed and restrict numbers as they enter, but with many people trying to grow their own at the moment, it's essential.

Is there any reason why we have to choose between them?

The utility top ups @Bluntness100 mentioned are probably the most important reason to why off licences opened.

Even though it's such a sad waste, garden centres genuinely are not essential.

My local garden centre sold groceries (including basics and lots of those posh Cook meals), pet food and cleaning supplies as well as garden stuff.

I agree garden centres should be open, at least for click and collect and for garden related items only (ie not candles or ornaments).

I don’t mean it should be an either/ or situation, just that if off licences are allowed to open, garden centres should also be on the list as they are more essential to general well-being of people stuck in their houses for 23 hours a day than an additional option for buying alcohol, which is already catered for by supermarkets and many corner shop/ post office combos. Good point about topping up key meters, though post offices and corner shops offer that.

I saw on the news they were facing ruin and asking the government for a bailout, surely they can just move to online retail? Do nursery plants survive delivery?

Don't see why they have to be compared. I think garden centres could still be open but the continuous assumption that off licences are only there for alcohol on here is getting tiresome. Granted there are some that just sell booze but many are just a corner shop. I'd rather some people that only needed a few essentials went to the village shop than everyone going to a large supermarket.

Keep off licences open for essential groceries but ban alcohol. Plenty of countries have done exactly that.

Perhaps this could be beneficial to the nation’s health if they banned alcohol, as that is most certainly not an essential, and saying that there are many alcoholics isn’t a justification for it being available.

I agree, if nothing else for the general public mental well being.

I feel the same about DIY stores. At least if people can keep busy while struck at home it's going to better in the long run then every sitting around getting more depressed.

We are relying on our gardens for that extra space more so than ever before. Mentally seeing bright pretty plants lifts our spirits. Alcohol is a necessity for many people..detoxing suddenly now would be another huge problem for the NHS ....the supermarkets stock alcohol though so not such a problem.

I think some would use (abuse?) it as a social meet up, also you mostly drive to them, which is an unnecessary journey. Also (correct me if I'm wrong) many (not all) of their customers would fall into the "vulnerable" category in terms of age, attracting as it does many retired persons over 65. It would be lovely if they could be open, but I see why they are not.

Alternative think about people who drink a lot being on lockdown with no alcohol available at all... who do you think they would take it out on?