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

There's no rules but it's just common sense that the more you go to the shops the more likely you will be exposed to the virus.

If not why not and where do you draw the line? Or are you not drawing the line anywhere?

You draw the line at the law. The law people seem to be dismissing so freely but that's the whole point of having laws - they are the line in the sand. That is literally their whole purpose of being. A line drawn by us as a society (through our elected representatives) that we all agree not to cross. We agree we can do anything up to that point but the point at which the law stipulates is the line. We may disapprove of people doing other things (adultery, for example) but they are not the agreed line. The law is.

@Hearhoovesthinkzebras

I think you are being deliberately provocative just to piss everyone off.

it's just common sense

There is no such thing. It's just a comforting thing we say to ourselves. We think that our own views must be so sensible that the majority of people hold them. They don't.

What's common sense to you, is not to me. What's common sense to me, will not be to you.

The idea of something being 'common' sense is a fallacy.

I am talking about it in the context of, as I just said, one person grabbing a hair dye and taking ten seconds isn't a problem

A few days ago, you insisted stopping fo 10 seconds to look at hair dye, or pick hot cross buns was wrong and that that was what shopping for essentials was for.

That what I am talking about. A few days ago. When you and few other posters got all angry over buying things like easter eggs and hot cross buns even as part if a big weekly shop.

You are now saying getting these things is all fine, but theres a time limit on how long you can be there. Says who?

@bluewafflewithmayo well put - they have also decreed that anyone joking or making light of such proclamations are also guilty of spreading complacency and encouraging rulebreaking leading to the outcomes you suggest. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

If only Mumsnet was an up to date board instead of this English Heritage digital heritage site we could like and upvote posts and see what the true consensus of the board was. Instead, it's a free for all and allows the most persistent to be the loudest rather than the most popular.

I agree totally about the upticks!! Would change the site completely for the better IMO

You could realistically very easily shop for 6 people for 2 days and carry it home though Pentium. Seems a bit silly to increase your risk that much.

So that's my point. You going in, walking directly to that aisle, picking up hair dye immediately probably won't make any difference but then if you are allowed to do it why can't everyone else? You want hair dye, someone else wants clothing, which is upstairs in my store. That adds on another however long. Someone else expects to try clothing on, or try shoes on. Is that allowed too? If not why not and where do you draw the line? Or are you not drawing the line anywhere?

After all, if you should be allowed to buy what you want, then why shouldn't anyone else? Why shouldn't someone spend three hours in there if they want to? On what grounds should they be stopped or do you think it should be allowed?

Ah yes. The Hunsnetter Rulez. It is always about what 'other' people will do. About how 'other' people will always misunderstand the rules if they are left alone to follow HMGov guidelines. How it must be Hunsplained by the Hunsnetter how 'others' will in fact kill the NHS if they don't follow the Hunsnet Rulez. Only the Hunsnetter truly understandz HM Gov's secret message.

@Hearhoovesthinkzebras you're flogging a dead zebra here. People are just determined to go about their business in the most utterly selfish and shameful way - then try and justify it by wearing a mask.

I'm embarrassed at the state of it.

"*Honestly, because I want to, and there are no rules telling me not to.

Judge away all you wish, no one is perfect.

If going for my one walk and popping into the shops is my biggest crime, I think I'm doing ok.*"

As for that. Shame on you. And in a household where there is at least one key worker coming in and out daily too. Yeah, keep doing what you want to do. And when local people and people you know start to die just know this, it could be you and your selfish attitude that infected them.

The wording used by Boris, was "basic necessities"....he didnt say essentials. All this trying to stop people buy things like Easter eggs and chocolate is silly. Granted it's good to try and reduce the amount of times you go, but what's wrong with sticking some niceties in the trolley whilst you are there. I wish they would reduce the restrictions on things...if I can only buy two packs of rice or meat items at a time I have to go shopping multiple times a week, with an average sized family and kids off school and therefore eating at home. My Son told me yesterday he was so hungry he was going to eat the chair!!! Hes exaggerating of course as he'd had lunch and tea but growing boys usually eat like a horse.

On the gov website it says 'going for food'

It doesnt say a time limit or what type of foods and it certainly doesnt say you cant buy other things with your food shop.

Actually @Shitsgettingcrazy it does go into more detail if you'd bothered to share the full picture and click on the link below.

Which would take you to this

"shopping for basic necessities, for example food and medicine, which must be as infrequent as possible".

Now that is not nipping to B&M for hair dye and a twix is it?

I'm going every three days, but that is with using store cupboard stuff. Soon I'll have to,go more often and dreading it

563 more people have died. Arguing about all the ins and outs of shopping seems really trivial now. Buy what makes you happy, but don't go out too often if you can manage it. Stay safe.

“ People are losing their minds, mainly over what others are doing. ”

The local newsagent lives in my block and she wants business. I feel a bit bad but I avoid shopping in normal circumstances! So not likely to pop to her for any reason.

I have used the greengrocer.

Now that is not nipping to B&M for hair dye and a twix is it?

Who has done that?

Basic nesseacties for example food. A Twix is food. I dont consider it a basic necessity. But some might.

And I did say people should nip out for hair dye. I have been talking, all along where posters (over the last few days) have objected, to use your example, to people putting hair dye and a twix in their food shopping.

They present it as fact. That its essential food only. Missing the fact that there is no essentials food list.

People should be staying in as much as possible. That's what I am doing. Also still wfh, so not even exercising very often.

My point was that some mners are trying to impose their own rules and standards and present them as part of the guidlines.

Of course there are no limits and anyone trying to impose one is going to get into difficulties immediately.

I last went to a shop the week before last. I could say I think anyone going more frequrntly than that is being a dick, based on my own experience which is as someone who drives and is pretty healthy and whose cupboards were well stocked to start with.

But then I think about my mother who does not drive, struggles with balance and fibromyalgia and so cannot carry much. If she lived alone she would have to go every single day, because she just couldn't carry more than that.

But then I think about my brother who regularly does triathalons and lives in a city and he is not driving but shopping every few days because he can carry a much larger amount of shopping.

I think about my friend who is a nurse and doesn't drive and stops in every other day after her shift to pick up shopping for her and her mother.

Any attempt to overly judge or prescribe what other people should do is going to be a blunt instrument for the many differing variations of lives that are being led.

Some shops are being ridiculous, making kids wait outside etc so we went to a sensible shop who realise when you shop on foot especially you often go together. Others were buying only non essentials ... eg booze. There's no law against it only a request

Yeah people are trying to make their own more relaxed rules. Showing a screenshot of the most watered down version of what the restrictions are only encourages them.

Lots of people are popping out for just one or two items when they don't need to. And admitting to doing it because they want to or because they can.

It's disgusting, society is such a mess

shits

On that image you've just posted there's a link to click on to find out more about the guidelines.

This is what it says

shopping for basic necessities, for example food and medicine, which must be as infrequent as possible

Shopping for basic necessities and as infrequently as possible

Can you explain how hair dye, make up, chocolate, wine, Easter eggs etc etc are basic necessities

And how is "every day" as infrequently as possible?

whitesoxx

I agree. When their friends and family are the ones affected I doubt they will be quite so blasé about the guidelines that were brought in to protect us all.

Lots of people are popping out for just one or two items when they don't need to.

Are there really lots? We just have one or two posters who have said they are doing that. The others have argued that there are not strict limits in place and why, but that doesn't automatically mean they are going to the shop all the time for trivial items.

I've argued the point that there are no limits and as I just said, it's been almost two weeks since I was last in a shop. I actually think there are a few people in that kind of situation: going as infrequently as they can whilst recognising that people have the option to go more often.

Yeah people are trying to make their own more relaxed rules. Showing a screenshot of the most watered down version of what the restrictions are only encourages them.

It's not watered down, what you posts confirm the screen shot. Food and medicine. There no basic necessity or essentials list. So a more detailed descriptions means nothing. Define basic nessecity, can you?

I dont eat bread or drink milk. For me, personally, it's not a basic or essential. But it appears to be for a lot of other people, including members of my own household.

I am not saying people should be trying to relax the rules. They should stick them. The actual rules given by government. Not what someone else has made up.

However, people are sticking to them, but other people are still getting all angry. Because they think people should be doing their personal version of the rules, not what's actually been communicated.

Can you explain how hair dye, make up, chocolate, wine, Easter eggs etc etc are basic necessities

Can you show me the basic nesseacties list?

Can you show me where it says certain items are no allowed as part of your bigger shop?

As I said, I dont personally eat bread or drink milk. I dont go around thinking no one else should have it either