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

Because there is no official specific guidance people are expected to apply their own judgement and common sense to the scenario. Therein lies the problem, there will be a variant in opinion. Personally I prefer to do a big shop and go less frequently as we have been told that the less contact with others the better so therefore I wouldn’t want to be risking it going every single day, and would rather go a little as often. I am also a key worker and wouldn’t want to be responsible for carrying or spreading the virus amongst others

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

Can you explain why coffee, tea, squash etc are basic necessities when there's plenty of water in the taps?

Because there is no official specific guidance people are expected to apply their own judgement and common sense to the scenario
There is!
This is on the government website and they've said it countless times:

You should only leave the house for very limited purposes:
shopping for basic necessities, for example food and medicine, which must be as infrequent as possible

It's there. People should be shopping as infrequently as possible.

That may look very different between a single person and a family of 7, for example, but the guidance is the same: infrequent as possible.

Beyond the majority of people (like you and me) who see 'infrequent as possible', see the health care workers begging people to stay home, see the government public health messages and realise that 'infrequent as possible' means just that, the difference of opinion comes in 2 forms:

1. A minority of people seek to claim you can only leave the house to shop once a week and should never buy anything other than bread and milk so don't even think about buying biscuits

1. People who seem to think that because nobody can stop them they're well within their rights to pop out when they want a magazine, or some chocolate, or they would prefer to shop daily because that's how they always shop. They're quite happy doing their own thing safe in the knowledge that the majority are doing what they should with absolutely zero concern for anyone else because 'it doesn't affect anyone if I go for some chocolate, maybe I NEED chocolate".

@LolaSmiles sorry I meant non specific with regards to how many times ‘infrequent’ means. There is a degree of interpretation there, does this mean every few days or once a fortnight? If clarified most people could do a fortnight or months shop and that would reduce numbers in supermarkets right down, but as you say there are so many people who live as they like because ‘no one can stop me’

@Hearhoovesthinkzebras yeah, I suspected you were witnessing this behaviour first hand. Most people haven't.

"152 posts on this thread, 3 of which say they are doing that.

I agree with pp - is that really "lots"? Seems like a lot of frothing without facts to me."

I'm not "frothing". I'm telling you what I'm seeing. And most people either don't admit it or have convinced themselves it's ok to act as they are. It's not.

@Shitsgettingcrazy as you're so hung up on this "list" of essential items maybe sit and have a think about what you personally need. Everyone is different yes. You say you don't use milk or bread. That's fine. So what would your list of say, 10 basic necessities be? Surely you can work out your own essentials and prioritise?

Everyone's list would look slightly different to cater for different needs (not wants, hair dye is not essential).

Once everyone's top 10s were amalgamated you'd find that the main food groups and baby and sanitary products were the things needed to comfortably sustain the nation.

It's really not this difficult.

And I can't even answer @Pentium85. I'm just hoping you're not for real

Ok. I will answer.

@Pentium85

"Yes, I'm selfish. Yes, I'm fully aware people like you will judge me for it.

But it is much easier for me to go daily, so I do.

And no amount of judgement from you, or others like you, will change that."

Would the untimely death of one of the key workers you live with change that? Or the person serving you every day in the shop?

I went twice today because I forgot something important. Saying that it's the first time I've been since Thursday evening.

I like to assume that, like me, people are using common sense.

I'm no more likely to have spread or caught it than if I'd gone Thursday, Monday and then today than going Thursday and then twice today.

"I'm no more likely to have spread or caught it than if I'd gone Thursday, Monday and then today than going Thursday and then twice today."

You can't possibly know that

Also do agree with questioning what's essential - I don't eat milk, eggs, meat, cheese, most breads...

I do eat lots of vegetables, beans and drink shit tonnes of tea. So yes, an aubergine and some lentils are my essentials.

Has anyone said lentils, aubergine and tea aren't essential? Of course they are for some

In China, one designated household member is allowed out for food every 3 days.

Not everyone has storage and refrigerator space for more than a few days. I find ALDI fruit and veg stay fresh for just a couple of days. M& S a week or longer.

as you're so hung up on this "list" of essential items maybe sit and have a think about what you personally need. Everyone is different yes. You say you don't use milk or bread. That's fine. So what would your list of say, 10 basic necessities be? Surely you can work out your own essentials and prioritise?

Of course I can. I didnt say I couldnt. Where would you get that from.

My point is we all have a list of essentials.

No one has to make a list of 10 thinks and stick to it. Some people may have hair dye on their list of 10.

As you said what's essential for me, is not essential or a basic for you. Hair dye? I can live without. But I dont have to. For some people its very important.

If there were common things in everyone's list of 10. It's still doesnt mean anyone else has to live by that.

You dont get to decide what's basic for everyone else

The government havent give a list of what you can or cant buy. When you go to the supermarket, you can legally buy anything out for sale.

Posters claiming people should or must stick to, their version of basics, is simply non sense.

Imo, people should be staying in as much as possible. limiting their trips out as much as possible.

But no one has a right to impose other standards that dont exist on the guidlines.

If the government expect people to buy absolute basics only, everything else wouldnt be on sale. It would be banned it's not.

Theres absolutely nothing, anywhere that says you can not add non basics in your shop.

By saying that how often and what is bought is different for everyone, you have agreed with my point.

Until hair dye/hot cross buns and any luxuries are banned. People are fine to get them. Wether you and other posters approve.

If we were only allowed to shop for basic necessities then shops wouldn't be allowed to sell them!

If magazines and newspapers are not allowed then why are they being published? Why are shops selling chocolate, Easter eggs, etc. Why has the gov. allowed Off Licences to remain open?

The advice was to shop for basic necessities as infrequently as possible. This advice was given in order that people could understand that shopping as a past-time was no longer acceptable. It wasn't intended that people start living like peasants! it really isn't the gov.'s expectation that we all walk down the luxury isles in the supermarkets and forbid ourselves from adding a bar of chocolate, an easter egg, a bottle of wine, crisps etc.

Use common sense- get your luxuries at the same time as your necessities, buy enough for a week or more if you can, get everything possible in the same shop- the rules aren't set in stone. The prime Minister gave us advice to follow regarding shopping and left it for us to interpret with common sense.

@whitesoxx

I don't know, because I can't possibly predict the future and how I would react the that.

What I do know is that some people don't tell the truth with regards to their activties; I spoke to my neighbour over the fence today who proclaimed she hadn't seen anyone In ages, yet I saw her yesterday in her garden with her sister and nephew. And my other neighbour I saw out on my walk also proclaimed they 'hadn't left the house in a week' and yet I've seen them leave multiple times.

So slam me all you wish, but there are multiple others doing what I'm doing.

It's easier for me to go to the shops every day, so I will, until it becomes law or a requirement that I don't

It's easier for me to go to the shops every day, so I will, until it becomes law or a requirement that I don't

Have you actually considered that the whole point of going less frequently is to reduce the number of people who die, or do you just not care?

@GrumpiestOldWoman

Fully understand all risks involved and the consequences that might happen.

It's easier for me to go to the shops every day, so I will, until it becomes law or a requirement that I don't

You do realise that by the time the government makes you do it it will be too late don't you?

So, there has been over 500 deaths in past 24 hours, death rate is doubling about every 3 days, so it will be at 1000+ by the weekend. These figures don't even cover the weekend where there was mass crowding at beaches etc so the numbers of people getting ill and dying will still be going up.

At what point do you think you would voluntarily reduce your going out? Or do you just not give a damn?

Fully understand all risks involved and the consequences that might happen.

You're saying that you don't care if your actions lead to someone's death? Wow.

Fully understand all risks involved and the consequences that might happen

What, you understand that you could infect someone and they could die from that infection?

You understand that you could catch it, go to hospital and infect a nurse or Dr and they could die?

But you don't care about either of those scenarios? Isn't that being a sociopath?

This could go on all evening, we won't agree.

I understand the risks, but will continue to shop as I currently am.

Whether you agree with that or not does not and will not impact my actions.

And so lockdowns end up being strengthen like they have in Italy, France. China, Spain.

pentium I really hope you don't have cause to look back on that statement with regret in the next few weeks

Whether you agree with that or not does not and will not impact my actions.

Words fail me. I wish customers like you could be banned from stores - those staff are risking their health and you literally could not care less.

I am so fed up of this. You can go to the shop to buy food. Buy as much as you need to see you through a reasonable time ie a min of 3/4 days. Only go out if you absolutely have to. Your magazine and chocolate are not essential. You are risking yourself and your loved ones for a treat. A treat is not essential it is a perk of living in a commercial society. Paint for walls or garden, hot tubs and soft furnishings, furniture and toys are not essential they are luxuries that we don't need to survive. Food and medicine are essentials. We should all only be leaving our homes and visiting shops for real essentials not just because we are used to getting what we want when we want. Have you seen the number of deaths today? Why can't all you selfish people start doing what you have been told by the government instead of spouting shit like they haven't said it's not allowed, and looking for loopholes just stay the fuck at home. It's not as if you are having to make a massive sacrifice. 😡

I case it hasnt already been posted ,here is the LAW. Not hearsay or karen from face book..

www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/350/made

I will say that i go to shops as little as possible because they are the crucibles of infection..