Rules on shopping frequency - there are none!

[swishthecat]

There is so much misinformation being spread on MN about how often you can go to the shops. I think it is worth drawing people's attention to the fact that Downing Street has clarified that there are no specific limits. People are just expected to be sensible and go as infrequently as they can.

www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/31/no-10-slaps-down-shapps-over-shop-once-a-week-comment-coronavirus

If you're going in a shop to buy a loaf of bread to feed the family and you happen to pick up a bar of chocolate, then I see no reason why you can't buy the chocolate at the same time as the bread.

If you just want chocolate, then maybe you should think twice about going out. If you can't resist and feel you desperately need it, well I think you need to take the same precautions as you would when buying the bread. So socially distancing and practising good hand hygiene etc.

The idea that bread and milk are essentials but chocolate is not is just daft. When did bread and milk get elevated so? Loads of people live their lives quite happily without either and nothing terrible happens to them. That would suggest, for almost everyone, threse two items are not actually "essential", they are just the energy source of choice.

Chocolate, milk, bread, rice, iced buns, crisps, milkshakes are all just energy.

If someone goes to the shop and just buys chocolate that is their chosen energy source. It's morally no better or worse than just buying bread or milk. They are no more essential to living, really.

I go every single day. Will not be changing that habit

I think there is no issue with getting a magazine and chocolate as part of the general groceries shopping, but people should be limiting the number of trips per week that they make for shopping, and limiting the number of shops visited on such trips, as much as possible. So if you can get your magazine and chocolate in the supermarket along with your bread, milk, meat and veg, that's great. If you need to get your magazine in a newsagents but can pick up your milk and bread there too and thus avoid the supermarket for another few days, that would also be ok.

And yes, there are no rules - but people are being asked to think about their purchases and their trips - so a little bit of organisation means you should still be able to get things, but reduce the risk of spreading infection for both you and those working in the shops you visit.

BeingATwatItsABingThing
That's sensible.

To be honest what this crisis is highlighting is that the vast majority of the public are sensible and considerate, but there's always some who think they're exempt from rules and guidelines because they come first.

If we think about school runs, most parents are sensible and reasonable, but there's always some who want to use the staff car park, park irresponsibly around driveways, think it's ok to stop on the yellow zigzags as long as they're quick. If challenged they get defensive, blame the residents for buying their houses, come up with a list of excuses why THEY have to drive the 5 min walk, why they have somewhere important to be, why they are the exception, why it's ok to wait on the lines because they're waiting not parking and they're only quick. Of course, anyone challenging them must hate working parents and needs a lecture about the fact that perhaps a couple have disabilities in an attempt to turn the considerate parents into the problem.

This crisis is no different. Most people are limiting how often they go out, are exercising close to home, are shopping as infrequently as possible whilst having to do their best with issues of shop stocks. Then there's others who would rather drive somewhere nice because technically it's not illegal, who will go out to the shops frequently because they fancy a magazine or a bar of chocolate and so on, and if challenged they point out that as something is technically not illegal they don't have to follow the guidelines, present their preferences and wants as needs and essentials, claim people advocating limiting non-essential trips are saying nobody should buy anything nice from the supermarket, and if all else fails act like those following the guidelines and challenging selfish behaviour are the meanies who are acting on behalf of the police state.

swishthecat

You were asking what's wrong with doing it, thereby implying that you don't see a problem with it. People will read your arguments and think that because other people don't see a problem with it then it's ok if they do it.

I don't see how you can start a thread like this, make arguments that justify people making multiple trips (eg what's wrong with buying just s chocolate bar, shops will be maintaining social distancing) and then claim that you aren't saying it's ok to do it on a daily basis.

You are absolutely saying it's ok to do this on a daily basis, or even more frequently.

The shop will have social distancing measures in place.

Maybe round where you live, but not around here. Corner shop allows anyone/everyone in, Sainsbury's was a fucking nightmare of people dawdling round, reaching in front of others, hardly anyone observing social distancing. You're right that there is no specific advice on the number of times you can go shopping, but assuming that shops are a safe environment is wrong. I can avoid others very easily the rest of the time, going shopping is the one time I feel at risk from others getting FAR too close.

Everyone is going to decide what their particular “rules” are on top of the actual legislation for going out shopping/driving to get to an exercise spot/what is deemed “essential” food etc. We all decide these rules depending on our own particular situation and that’s fine. What isn’t fine is when people start imposing their own personal rules onto everyone else. Which happens on MN. A lot.

I go every single day. Will not be changing that habit

I think maybe you will when they lock us down as in France and Spain.

Are you not concerned about the risk you are posing to the people working in the shop? Are their lives dispensable to you?

When did we become so selfish? I can't believe anyone would put their wants above the life of someone else.

zafferana to be honest, I have only been to our local coop and off licence since lockdown, both seem to be doing a good job. I am avoiding the big supermarkets as I think they are much more risky and I worry about bringing the virus home to my DH, who is vulnerable.

What isn’t fine is when people start imposing their own personal rules onto everyone else.

Do you know what else isn't fine - choosing to risk others lives because you decide that your wants are more important than their lives.

Three doctors have died and others undoubtedly will because they acted selflessly and put everyone else before them and yet here some of you are demanding that what you want matters more than anything else.

The more you go to the shop, the more chance you have of catching the virus or passing it on. Why risk it? The whole point of the guidelines is to reduce the risk of catching and spreading the virus so wether or not the guidelines quote a specific number surely it’s obvious to go as few times as possible.

Going to the shops every single day is ridiculous, you are not doing it for essentials you are doing it to alleviate boredom. We are all bored and nobody wants to be stuck in the house but it’s tough luck, why do people doing this think they are somehow more important than everyone else and these guidelines don’t apply to them?

Well l go in the local shop everyday to buy cigarettes on my way to work and pick up a few bits for lunch.. Yes l know l shouldn't smoke before anyone starts. Plenty off people in there buying magazine s and newspapers. They have social distancing sorted and they card payment machine well away from. Cashier. I don't see the problem. If I'm working 12hours a day I'm having my cigarettes. I did consider bulk buying at supermarket but l know the guy that runs the shop struggling to stay open so why not support local business.

We all decide these rules depending on our own particular situation and that’s fine.
The rules are reasonably clear. We're being told to limit how much we go out and to shop as infrequently as possible.

This may mean that a family of 5 need to shop 2 or 3 times a week due to product restrictions and that would be reasonable as they are shopping as infrequently as possible.

It doesn't give someone else a free pass to just nip to the shops because they fancy some chocolate. That's not as infrequently as possible. It's someone dressing up their want as a need because it allows them to excuse them willingly ignoring the rules.

@HistoryHeroes you can buy what you want, not just basics.
Don’t be ridiculous.

Your basic may be bread, beans, cheese and eggs

My basic may be steak, olives, gruyere cheese.

You are being silly.

We don’t have rationing yet

How about supporting the NHS? Would that not be better?

You know how to support them? By not helping to spread the virus.

I take it that every single poster who insists that they won't be changing their behaviour absolutely will not be seeking medical treatment if and when they get it? They won't be expecting. Dr to risk his life intubating you because you caught this whole you were exercising your ability to go to the shops every day right?

Just sounds like you are trying to find loopholes
There are no loopholes
If someone wants to go to the shop then go to the shop . My dm doesn't do the food shop as doesn't drive so my df does it on his own. Once a week she walks to the shop for her magazines she may pick milk up etc too but it's exercise and it's lifting her spirits/ giving her something to do . She wouldn't leave the house at all other than this and tbh she's suffered very badly with depression in the past so whatever gets her through it .

Some posters on MN are definitely trying to inflict their own rules.

I have been told shopping once every 10 days to 2 weeks, is too much and I must go less.

That taking 10 seconds to pick up hair dye off a shelf, isnt allowed, it's not an essential and those 10 seconds mean someone else is waiting 10 seconds

That non essentials shouldnt be part of any shop. But the list is what they deem essential.

That a trip to the supermarket must be only for things you need. Not a time to pick up treats.

Only businesses that do key work should be open and travelling to work isnt allowed unless you are a key worker

These have all been said with the certainty that is part of the guidlines the government gave us.

Do you know what else isn't fine - choosing to risk others lives because you decide that your wants are more important than their lives.

I often wonder if anyone sees the irony of posts like this, written by someone using technology - technology that almost certainly has sweatshops and dangerous working conditions in their pipeline (because they mosty all do) and certainly has terrible ecological credentials in their chain (because they all actually do). An industry - like so many - in which wants are placed above lives all the time.

Teenage, why not buy a few packs in one go from the local shop? So you can go in less often?

I have been told shopping once every 10 days to 2 weeks, is too much and I must go less.*
Who's told you this ? Who's decided this ?

No one is saying going to the shops every day, but I fully intend to get my kids Easter Eggs, and buy wine and gin, and all sorts of stuff if I want to and can get it

They are part of the guidelines though.

They might not be prohibited in law but they are covered in the guidelines.

Think of it this way

10 people in the shop all buying one bar of chocolate.

Or 1 person in the shop buying fruit and veg and a chocolate bar.

Totally different risk for everybody.

I wish people would stop trying to sound like martyrs! Nobody is saying we need to live on gruel! Reduce the number of trips you make if you can (I'm a once to twice a day shopper, I'm down to 3 times a week, big reduction) but nobody is saying you can't buy a magazine and chocolate on an evening walk - our corner shops are relying on us. Social distancing isn't a competition in piety