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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think non essential business shouldn’t be open at all

109 replies

fourpeasinapod · 26/04/2020 12:53

My title is a bit vague, but I’ll explain below.

In my town, and I’m sure a lot of places are doing this now, most restaurants and coffee shops are open for deliveries which is fine as long as social distancing is maintained when they deliver to the customer but they all seem to be allowing customers to come down to the store and collect their food if they want to instead of delivery.

AIBU to think this is contradicting the lockdown rules? How is this essential travel going down to the chippy to collect your dinner? You have to stand outside in a line and I can imagine social distancing isn’t being adhered to whilst this is happening.

Some might say I’m wrong because eating is essential but surely I’m not wrong to think such establishments should remain completely closed or at least only make it delivery only?

OP posts:
PeanutDouglas · 26/04/2020 12:55

yabu. As long as they’re within social distancing guidelines when they’re picking up the food i have zero issue

bridgetreilly · 26/04/2020 12:55

YABU.

Littlemissdaredevil · 26/04/2020 12:56

As far as I am aware take away are allowed to open. Most are shut here. There is one chippy open but the are one in one out and people are queuing appropriately distanced outside. Staff are wearing face masks inside

user1493413286 · 26/04/2020 12:57

Social distancing is being maintained in the lines outside any of the places you’ve just named in my town; they are also giving people specific times and asking them to not come earlier so that there’s only a certain number of people outside at a time therefore it is possible.

LilacTree1 · 26/04/2020 12:58

the government rules are contradictory in themselves

you cannot blame a business for trying to keep food on the table and dare I say it, keep paying for the (bleep) NHS.

Wynston · 26/04/2020 12:58

They are trying to make a living still......bills to pay, mouths to feed....and hopefully a business for staff to return to.
Hard times.

flowertoday · 26/04/2020 12:58

I think it is important to allow as many businesses to continue trading. Takeaway allows for social distancing rules to be adhered to and keeps people in work. Also people fed , perhaps key workers who are tired after a long shift or parents who want a break from cooking after a long day if home schooling /WFH / everything else.
I am not keen in takeaways so they are not essential to me. But that isn't really the point.

CuriousaboutSamphire · 26/04/2020 12:59

You can imagine??

OK? I'll imagine otherwise.

BakedCam · 26/04/2020 13:00

They are very contradictory @LilacTree1

I'm all for non-essential retailers being opened. Larger ones are able to address social distancing measures.

YABU, OP.

Ruffins · 26/04/2020 13:01

YABU. If the chippy closes I will actually throw myself to the ground and have a full screaming toddler tantrum. And I will blame you.

flirtygirl · 26/04/2020 13:02

YABU

YABU

YABU

YOU ARE WELCOME

IceCreamAndCandyfloss · 26/04/2020 13:03

Maybe the business needs to be running to pay staff so they can pay bills Hmm as long as they follow the rules then they are doing nothing wrong.

Lots of things still being sold that aren’t essentials. Presumably you aren’t buying any of them.

CrotchetyQuaver · 26/04/2020 13:05

YABU
essential means different things to different people. Lots of people consider fags or booze essential. I don't, but I'm not going to come on a forum and moan about it. You don't know why they're having takeaway and it's not your business anyway. Maybe they don't have a car?

Original poster
fourpeasinapod · 26/04/2020 13:06

Guys you are missing my point.

I’m fully aware that business owners still need to make money and I encourage them to open at this time.

All I’m saying is, it should be delivery only. How is allowing people to come and collect and then stand outside in a street so close to people obeying the social distancing rules?

OP posts:
CuriousaboutSamphire · 26/04/2020 13:07

And, as Priti Patel said yesterday, when a journalist asked much the same question... If they are open you can shop there!

We do need to keep the economy ticking over, no matter how slowly. It is, and has always been a balancing act that each individual business had to work through for themselves.

Remember which businesses were specifically closed? Well ALL of the others could remain open.

Willow2017 · 26/04/2020 13:08

I can imagine social distancing isn’t being adhered to whilst this is happening

As you arent there your imagination isnt much of an argument.

Baaaahhhhh · 26/04/2020 13:08

Actually I am very disappointed how few restaurants are operating delivery, take away, or click and collect. Very few round here. The initial idea was that they could operate, as eating food is essential.

I have been using COOK click and collect, but that is quite expensive, so not very often. I know our local fish and chips are doing a click and collect, but I haven't yet used it, as I don't really like fish and chips!

An Italian we go to, is going deliveries, but only about 1 mile from it's restaurant, which doesn't include us.

If I had the option, I would use a delivery or collection service.

IHaveAMagicBean · 26/04/2020 13:08

YABVU. Are you seriously asking if every “non essential” business can cope with zero income?

Also a chippy is a poor example of a non essential business. Food is essential. Nail bars, clothes shops, hairdressers and the home brew shop on my high street are closed but they can’t stay closed for ever. I’m sure they are struggling. The sooner the non essential shops can open the better it will be for the economy.

Baaaahhhhh · 26/04/2020 13:09

Sorry clicked too soon. I don't see the difference between doing that, and collecting food from a supermarket.

hammeringinmyhead · 26/04/2020 13:09

How do you know they aren't standing outside 2m apart? They are here. I can see the local chippy from my kitchen.

tunnocksreturns2019 · 26/04/2020 13:09

I collected pizza last night as a treat. There was no queue. The way I was served was spot on re social distancing.

Delivering is way more time consuming than having people pick up, and lots of businesses wouldn’t be able to sustain just delivery.

Bounceyflouncey · 26/04/2020 13:10

They can only fulfil so many deliveries, probably not enough to break even. People are not confined to their homes, so it makes sense to allow people to collect food, as long as they stick to social distancing.

Jupiters · 26/04/2020 13:10

All I’m saying is, it should be delivery only. How is allowing people to come and collect and then stand outside in a street so close to people obeying the social distancing rules
Because you are only imagining they are breaching social distancing.

Baaaahhhhh · 26/04/2020 13:10

it should be delivery only. How is allowing people to come and collect and then stand outside in a street so close to people obeying the social distancing rules?

You could say the same about supermarkets. Food is food. People are queueing outside supermarkets, and queueing to pay inside, no difference.

SuitedandBooted · 26/04/2020 13:12

Is it really any different from getting food from a shop? Confused

Queue up if required, get food, go home.