To be annoyed at people shopping in families/couples?

[Nicknamegoeshere]

So I went to the supermarket to do my weekly shop today. Left the baby and my OH at home as I understand the current rules re Covid to be shop alone where possible.

Now I totally respect that in certain circumstances there has to be exceptions to this rule e.g. for lone parents, shopping with a vulnerable person etc.

However, there were a huge number of large families (with both parents) shopping today, lots and lots of couples (young/middle-aged) etc.

Why are so many people blatantly ignoring the guidance?

the shops need to remind people.
i went to waitrose in the first lock down and the young lad would not let me and dd in together.

I agree with you op. It seems crazy with all that’s going on that families are treating shopping like a grand day out. I saw a family out shopping, the mum wasn’t wearing a mask and the dad was just pushing the trolley with the child in. There is a pandemic. I think some people have forgotten or just don’t care.

And as for the notion that there are now trolley inspectors checking if what you’re buying is an essential?

Away tae fuck.

I bought an enormous pile of crap on Saturday along with my groceries. Because I’m under stress and I comfort eat. So bloody what.

Honest to god if people were less nosy and judgemental about what everyone else was doing in the supermarket and just got on with their own lives, wearing a mask, stepping back, sanisiter on their hands, the world would be a better place.

This stuff about shopping alone isn’t the law. It isn’t official government guidance. (I thought it was). It’s something certain supermarkets have brought in to try to make people feel superior.

Lidl don’t have it. As far as I’m aware. That’s where I shop, followed by Tesco or Asda. No one in Tesco stopped me and dd going in together.

But ours is a small store and the staff know us. They’re sympathetic and caring and go out of their way to be helpful.

So what is it? Is this shop alone by Waitrose rule so that their shoppers can find another way to be superior to the plebs in Asda?

“Oh well you know” sayeth Hyacinth “I wouldn’t shop in Asda. They let you” “shop as a couple”.

If it was really necessary to shop alone, and made a difference to transmission levels, it would be the law.

Absolutely sparkling, but I am just reminding people that not all areas of the uk are under the same rules as England.

So what one person says is law might not be law where the commenter is located. (Eg on non-essential shops being closed)

I shop with my DD. It's something we can do together and her mental health is poor. It's guidance so stop acting like the fu** Covid police!

Anyway is it even guidance. Please send the link!

I am confused by people who see shopping as ‘something to do together’

Play a board game, watch a film, go for a walk. These are my family activities of choice. Often the rest of the family does it while one adult goes shopping. I am sorry but ‘he can’t pick veg- I can’t pick meat- he is not capable of shopping ‘ is just not true

It's common sense to shop alone where possible - common bloody sense. We are all supposed to be socially distancing - surely that's much easier if there are fewer people wandering around in close groups discussing the week's dinner menu.

Of course there are reasonable exceptions - physical/mental health issues, childcare issues etc - but being bored, bored, bored isn't one of them. And I can't help laughing at the people who think tag team ninja shopping is essential to getting in a week's groceries. No it isn't. It really isn't.

Anyway is it even guidance. Please send the link!

You do realise it's sort of your responsibility to find out the requirements for your supermarket

But anyway, a quick Google of 'shop alone where possible' brings up a range of news articles covering the fact that that's exactly what many major supermarkets are doing.

From the Sainsbury's Covid page:

Where possible, we ask that you only send one adult per household when you shop with us. This will help us manage the number of people in our stores and make your shop quicker and smoother

Tescos Covid FAQ

Children are absolutely allowed in our stores.

In line with Government guidelines, we’re encouraging customers to, where possible, shop on their own. This will help to reduce the number of people in-store at any one time and help maintain social distancing measures.

However, we understand that this isn’t always possible and if customers need to bring children with them, or shop with a carer, they are welcome to do so.

Anyway, it isn't rocket science. We are in a pandemic. We are meant to be reducing contacts and journeys. How hard is it to only go shopping with those who have to go?

Well, if you’re that worried about shopping and if we are meant to reducing contacts and journeys, why go shopping at all? Why not get a delivery or click and collect?

Every supermarket has exemptions. To the mask rule, to the shop alone.

It’s not for me to judge anyone else - I take the view that I can’t change their behaviour so I don’t take it under my notice.

I’ve cried over this thread. I’ve cried that people are looking at me with my daughter and thinkin I’m reckless and want to give people Covid.

The op said she wouldn’t care if people who shopped with another person got Covid.

I care. I’ve reduced my risk as low as I can’t. I’m not seeing my children. The op sees her older boys - I can’t do that. I haven’t seen my eldest since Christmas last year and I won’t see him this year at Christmas.

It’s horrific for me and I need my daughter with me to help with my mental health, and to physically help me.

How does anyone else know those are my reasons with just by looking at us?

@Kcar Exactly. Some of us have effectively been on lockdown since mid-September. Somehow I think people meeting indoors, and inevitably not social distancing, is going to have far more effect on whether the English lockdown is extended past the 2nd of December than 2 people going to the supermarket at once. You only need to look at the recent "are you following the rules" thread to see a lot of people aren't.

@Nishky

I am confused by people who see shopping as ‘something to do together’

Play a board game, watch a film, go for a walk. These are my family activities of choice. Often the rest of the family does it while one adult goes shopping. I am sorry but ‘he can’t pick veg- I can’t pick meat- he is not capable of shopping ‘ is just not true

Your family being the operative words, mind your own business. Some people have teens who don’t want to play another fecking board game for as long as their lives depend on it.

Well, if you’re that worried about shopping and if we are meant to reducing contacts and journeys, why go shopping at all? Why not get a delivery or click and collect?
I do where possible, but when I can't then I shop alone when possible.

Every supermarket has exemptions. To the mask rule, to the shop alone
Bloody hell, people have already acknowledged this!

(Bangs head on brick wall)

The supermarkets are telling people to shop alone IF POSSIBLE.

If it isn't possible for someone then they should continue doing what they need to.

If someone is the type of person to whine about the fact they want to do what they like because it's not the law then they are part of the problem.

Once more for people at the back: 'if possible' means just that. For some it's not possible and that's fine.

@Kcar

Absolutely sparkling, but I am just reminding people that not all areas of the uk are under the same rules as England.

So what one person says is law might not be law where the commenter is located. (Eg on non-essential shops being closed)

Everyone knows that. There are people from all over the world on MN. But I can only comment on where I am, I don’t know the current rules in every country, I doubt anyone does.

But how does the op know the difference?

She’s judging the fuck out of people and she has no idea why they are with another person.

@LolaSmiles

Well, if you’re that worried about shopping and if we are meant to reducing contacts and journeys, why go shopping at all? Why not get a delivery or click and collect? I do where possible, but when I can't then I shop alone when possible.

Every supermarket has exemptions. To the mask rule, to the shop alone
Bloody hell, people have already acknowledged this!

(Bangs head on brick wall)

The supermarkets are telling people to shop alone IF POSSIBLE.

If it isn't possible for someone then they should continue doing what they need to.

If someone is the type of person to whine about the fact they want to do what they like because it's not the law then they are part of the problem.

Once more for people at the back: 'if possible' means just that. For some it's not possible and that's fine.

Can I join you in the head banging?

Some people have teens who don’t want to play another fecking board game for as long as their lives depend on it

Well I can relate to that, but I still don't see how you get from that to shopping as a family outing. In fact if they are that bored, they can go out and get the shopping - essential items or not essential, who cares? Just go on your own and don't block the aisles having long-winded chats about what cereal you want.

Kcar
You do realise people can talk about piss takers without claiming to tell everything at a glance?

Or are you seriously going to claim thay suddenly the whole group of selfish people who go through life thinking the rules don't apply to them have suddenly disappeared?

For what it's worth, groups of adults is probably a piss take, whole families where mum is actually doing all the shopping whilst dad plods behind doing nothing and the kids are wandering around getting in everyone's way are probably piss taking (unless of course dad's ineffective parenting and staring at his phone is an essential quality, but probably for 99% of the time I'd guess not).

YANBU, usually young families and OAPs where I live. Even pre pandemic I don’t get why people go with both parents and kids to the supermarket. Shopping with young kids is shit and why anyone does it unless they have no option is beyond me.

I agree! I think Covid has brought out the worst in people. Everyone is so judgy. On occasion I’ve been shopping with my husband. He’s got our food and I’ve shopped for my dad.

@LolaSmiles

Kcar You do realise people can talk about piss takers without claiming to tell everything at a glance?

Or are you seriously going to claim thay suddenly the whole group of selfish people who go through life thinking the rules don't apply to them have suddenly disappeared?

For what it's worth, groups of adults is probably a piss take, whole families where mum is actually doing all the shopping whilst dad plods behind doing nothing and the kids are wandering around getting in everyone's way are probably piss taking (unless of course dad's ineffective parenting and staring at his phone is an essential quality, but probably for 99% of the time I'd guess not).

I agree, you can totally see the family outings that are just for fun. I was in Superdrug last week and it took a family of five to buy a tanning mitt apparently. Admittedly Superdrug have no guidelines to help people shop safely but as the next person in the queue it was not great.

Wow. I shop with my DH because I'm a key worker who has worked 40+ hours (normally closer to 60) a week, I am the driver in the house and if I didnt do the shopping with him I would literally never see him. It's bad enough only seeing my kids for an hour a day if I'm lucky.

@Bitchysideisouttoplay unfortunately, being a key worker doesn't make you special. Weirdly, neither does having a husband who can't/won't drive. Bizarre levels of accepted infantilisation of men on this thread.

[quote Mrsmorton]@Bitchysideisouttoplay unfortunately, being a key worker doesn't make you special. Weirdly, neither does having a husband who can't/won't drive. Bizarre levels of accepted infantilisation of men on this thread.[/quote]
At no point have I said I'm special I mearly explained why we go shopping together, if it becomes the actual rules then fait enough we wont shop together. And as to the driving there are many many reasons people dont drive, it is an accepted lifestyle choice for many people, but in our case my DH is highly autistic and cannot cope with driving and I would prefer that he and everyone else on the roads are safe

I don't drive and I'm single, I manage to do the shopping without a car.