To call 6th form college about maskless teens - in Wales

[WeeWelshWoman]

In Wales masks are still compulsory for over 11s in most shops, unless you have a valid exemption.

This lunchtime about 20 students from a local sixth form college descended on our local Tesco express. Only 2 of these 16, 17 and 18 year olds wore masks. None had a lanyard. A few,you could seehad masks in pockets.

Staff, and a few shoppers politely reminded them they needed to wear masks - causing one girl to get really rude and threaten to spit at people. She left the shop. A few sheepishly put on masks, but others nonchalantly did not.

Afterwards, I called the local college to ask them to have a word with their students and remind them that they need to wear masks whilst on lunch break/ free periods if they're going to the local shops.

I find this frustrating as someone who perseveres with a mask despite having ASD and various MH difficulties that technically exempt me. Virtually everyone I know who is exempt actually tries to wear a mask, or has a sunflower lanyard when they cannot.

I also think it's highly unlikely that 18 out of 20 teens would have a valid exemption.

Was I being unreasonably to ring their college? The college were lovely and said they'd remind students to be courteous and follow Covid 19 guidance.

I really felt for the staff too. Since England got rid of mask rules, Tesco has reduced the time they're allowed to have a security guard on their front door - they said they've seen a big increase in people just not bothering with masks or store limits since then.

The rudeness alone was worth a call - as it's a college the my can't stop the kids from leaving during the day though.

No one likes wearing masks - I don't now it's not compulsory in England, but if shops and places of business say they want you to wear one I will. All the time it's the law they need to be doing it regardless of your personal preference or opinion. I don't think they actually do much but again it's a case of abiding by the law really.

I think you were right to ring and complain!!!

I personally wouldn’t support calling the college about non-mask wearing in kids that age, but I’d think anyone was justified in a call to the police if some little scrote was threatening to spit on people. Vile.

You were right to ring about the general rudeness and threats of spitting, however there is no 'technically exempt' no 'is exempt but tries to wear a mask' if you can wear a mask you are not exempt.

Would people have 'reminded' these people to wear masks if it was, say, a group of middle aged men?! Nope, thought not.

Mask wearing really phasing out here. Have felt a Wally wearing mine a few times when no one else is. Lots of people of all ages don’t I sometimes forget.

You do sound rather dramatic - teenagers “descending” on a shop they just went out in a group to get a sandwich. Really dislike this demonising of teens and it shines out of your long post.

Shitty, entitled attitudes in response to a reasonable request are inexcusable. Retail staff should not be subject to abuse. You're right to call the college.

@Whitefire

You were right to ring about the general rudeness and threats of spitting, however there is no 'technically exempt' no 'is exempt but tries to wear a mask' if you can wear a mask you are not exempt.

No, that isn’t how it works. You can be exempt but sometimes wear a mask, or usually wear one but sometimes be unable to.

@MsTSwift mask wearing here in Wales is still mandatory in most circumstances.

@lolaroses oh, I've seen lots of middle aged men been reminded to put their masks on. Just before the students arrived a gentleman in his early 50s was asked to put his on by staff. He apologised and did

@middleparking - I thought the college was a better step than going straight to the police. As a gentle reminder message often goes a long way into fixing an issue.

But yeah, maybe someone should have just called the police.

Yup, that's the guidance with the legislation here in Wales.

For example, even before the pandemic I found places like big supermarket shops incredibly challenging - causing massive sensory overload. But a smaller, quieter shop doesn't have the same impact. So I try to shop online or stay to local, smaller shops wherever possible. The few times I've been to a big shop and worn a mask I've had a really bad sensory reaction and gone into complete shutdown - which ends up affecting me for days afterwards. I avoid them at all costs - but I understand other people with autism spectrum disorders / other sensory processing issues may have no choice but to use the bigger shop. I also have a friend who is hearing impaired. When out with her husband she wears a mask but he doesn't wear so she can lipread, if he's out on his own he wears a mask.

That last post was supposed to quote the comment about guidance accepting that some people can wear masks some of the time, but not all of the time. I managed to mess up the quote! Oops.

Yes but your post is about teens not middle aged men. People so quick to criticise teens really annoys me.

You don't happen to live between Cardiff and Swansea do you?