Stricter measures than ever before. Wales to restrict what supermarkets can sell.

[safariboot]

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-54648194

We didn't have that in the "first wave". Despite some confusion, it was perfectly OK for essential shops to also sell non-essentials, and for customers to purchase them on the same visit as doing essential shopping. Now, in Wales, it's not OK, the stated reason being "fairness" to small businesses.

I think this could be a first sign of things to come. I fully expect measures at least as strict as, and possibly stricter than, what we saw in March. And I expect local to become regional to become national. Because anything less just isn't keeping Covid-19 under control.

Well you’re cheerful aren’t you!

Having read this article it is not because the welsh Govt think that buying clothes in Asda is dangerous more that small businesses object to being forced to close whilst people buy products from other shops?

The chances of this spreading nationally are pretty slim I would have thought.

People will just buy online it is a sop to appease small businesses.

I can foresee another Easter situation on here where posters were called murderers for buying non essential Easter eggs.

It’ll be murders buying advent calendars and non essential food - turkeys, Brussel sprouts, mince pies etc. Better stick to gruel this Christmas.

It doesn’t help small businesses though does it as people will just shop online 🤷🏼‍♀️

I can't believe that Welsh people are putting.up with this shit to be honest.

Wow

Me either

Sturgeon and Drakeford are having a right old Covid-off! Surely Sturgeon will top him tomorrow. I'm going for full on martial law in Scotland

That is absolutely crazy. He’s power mad.

How are clothes not essential though? My ds needs a new coat. I've put off going, because I don't especially like shopping, but I did pop into the primark I pass on my way to work to look for one and couldn't find one in his size.

I'd say a warm winter coat that fits is pretty essential!

Shoes are essential. Pants are essential. Clothes are essential.

He is bonkers. Same as sturgeon

It's only for 17 days. I'm sure people can survive without supermarket clothing for that time.

Yeah, but those 17 days include a payday. People may be waiting to buy pants/coats whatever till they're paid.

@Hotcuppatea

I can't believe that Welsh people are putting.up with this shit to be honest.

Agreed, what a load of shit.

@littlbrowndog

Shoes are essential. Pants are essential. Clothes are essential.

He is bonkers. Same as sturgeon

Both are textbook Little Hitlers

This just makes them look insane. It’s just posturing.

@Hotcuppatea

I can't believe that Welsh people are putting.up with this shit to be honest.

Agreed but what can they do?

Given the response to this one seems to be pretty universal mystification & derision, I highly doubt this is the shape of things to come. Even at the height of the spring panic people laughed at this sort of nonsense and it was dropped pretty quickly.

Also I'm unclear as to how 'essential' Tesco items are magically less infectious than 'non-essential' Tesco items? Is a copy of Closer inherently more Covid-ridden than a tin of baked beans?

*I can foresee another Easter situation on here where posters were called murderers for buying non essential Easter eggs.

It’ll be murders buying advent calendars and non essential food - turkeys, Brussel sprouts, mince pies etc. Better stick to gruel this Christmas.*

You can see it now can't you. I wonder what else we can accuse people of murdering people for over the festive period.

That's awful. The people making these decisions should try living in the real world. Buying clothes when you have the money is essential, especially for those that have to budget.

What can they do? Be more vocal. Complain loudly. Tag the idiot and the media into social media posts where you're buying things from Amazon instead of the shop down the road.

Politicians are very sensitive to this stuff, especially ones in marginal seats who are worried about their election chances next time.

Also if we're defining 'essential' as 'essential to my fucking sanity', the Tesco toy aisle definitely met that definition back in Big Lockdown.

I'm reading this as meaning things like seperate concessions inside supermarkets will have to close. Not that the clothes aisle in Tesco can't be open! But that, for example, the travel agent and Tesco mobile section and dry cleaning bit etc can't stay open.

This is absolutely crazy. Who does this guy think he is??

Mr Drakeford said: "We will be making it clear to supermarkets that they are only able to open those parts of their business that provide essential goods to people.

"And that will not include some of the things that Russell George mentioned, which other people are prevented from selling."

There is no precise list of non-essential goods in the law coming into force on Friday, but any business selling goods or services for sale or hire in a shop will have to close.

Mark Drakeford is talking nonsense.

He can ask stores politely not to open other parts of those stores.

However since the restrictions start at 6pm tomorrow many supermarkets are not going to be geared up for this. Its not law.

What are they going to do in practice? Tape up the Aldi Aisle of Doom and the clothing section in Tesco? Refuse to put duvets in Morrisons through the til?

And if the supermarkets dont do it, is Mark Drakeford going to send in the police to... Enforce the none existent law? 'You were selling non essential items in aisle 5 therefore we are going to errrr fine you? errr close you down so everyone else goes hungry? Errr argue the toss over the definition of 'essential'?'

Yeah ok.

At best Drakeford could check the law next week to clarify things if he doesn't like it.

Otherwise its little more than a request which could be ignored by supermarkets and might deter some shoppers from going out for a bit of a browse down the toy section to do their Christmas shopping.