Why is it specifically toilet roll that's running out?

[Eckhart]

Pasta is too, but less so, it seems, and not as soon. Given that snot and poo aren't prolific symptoms of COVID -19... why toilet roll?

I don't get it either!

If you are told not to go out, and can't go shopping, it is a horrible thing to live without.

@Poet really? Its not even edible. It’s one of the least essential things we buy. There’s this amazing stuff called soap and water which renders it unnecessary in a tricky situation.

Domino effect? Packets of toilet roll are big, even packs of four. A shop only needs slightly more than usual to be sold and suddenly the shelves look bare. Then other people see the bare shelves and panic so they rush to another shop to buy some, and they buy extra when they're there. And so it goes on...

I don't get it. Showering off your bum is probably more hygienic and ecological even with a bit of soap and laundering towels etc.

I've read it is more psychological than an actual need for hundreds of toilet roll

The only logical answer I’ve seen was “every time someone coughs they must shit themselves”

I agree, poetry, but if we ran out of food we'd have less call for it. We don't seem so concerned about that. Most of us have a means of washing right next to the toilet. Starving is surely worse?

I was talking to a woman in asda with 5 big packs of toilet roll and 5 of every kind of pasta in her trolley she said she just didn't know what else to do in this situation. I think it's psychological with a lot of people they just want to feel like they're doing something. There's a lot of fear I coughed once and I swear necks snapped to look at me

It’s just what people panic buy. By me you can’t get hand gel, toilet roll or painkillers. Cleaning supplies are iffy. And I’ve just had most of £180 online shop cancelled. They were out of stock of all the dried goods (pasta,rice, tins etc) and all my freezer food was cancelled. I’ve been refunded almost the whole amount and just have a few bits for the fridge. People are preparing not to go out for a couple weeks, plus panic buying in anticipation of other people panic buying. I’m doing it myself now. I’ve been round all the corner shops which are better stocked than the supermarkets now buying what I can before everyone else does

www.google.com/amp/s/news.sky.com/story/amp/coronavirus-why-are-people-panic-buying-and-why-toilet-paper-11952397

Our local supermarket has not had an issue with toilet paper. It seems rice, pasta, tinned tomatoes and wine are the go to items to stock up on here!

I wonder if people saw the pics from Australia and thought it was here

Toilet roll, painkillers, anti bac wipes/sprays, handwash, sanitiser all out here

DH couldn’t find loo roll in any shop in our area or within about a mile radius today. I’m in london. I’ve got a D&V bug. I’m so pushed off with this selfish fucking stock piling. Fucking idiots.

I've literally just bought all those things. Loads of toilet roll in stock too. Hand sanitizer is the only elusive product.

I need to do a freezer clear out and restock - there's too much elderly bread in there

pissed off

Aldi had some here. They had fancy Nicky supreme gold ones up the middle aisle

I'm kind of expecting hand cream to be the next thing that goes as the handwashing and sanitising starts to bite.

@dementedpixie Thanks for the link. I'm glad to see experts are also thinking this behaviour is unfounded.

@PancakesNWaffles I feel for you. I hope you feel better soon and have enough supplies in the meantime.

Someone told me it’s because the middle bits are made in China. And with the lockdown there will be a shortage of them. No idea how true it is, but the panic buying is just madness

Because social media has whipped everyone into a frenzy

@thehumansatsuma Yes, but that started for a reason. An unknown reason.

I really like your name, btw, although what I think you look like is probably vastly erroneous.

Because the official advice is to cough into a tissue and to dispose of it into a bin. That’s a lot of tissues!

Toilet paper is cheaper than tissues.

I dont believe that's why people are buying it tbh. Its seeing empty shelves and then thinking omg I better buy some too