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Original poster

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

600 replies

safariboot · 22/10/2020 21:56

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.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
11
justasking111 · 23/10/2020 16:49

The great wall of Tesco

Stricter measures than ever before. Wales to restrict what supermarkets can sell.
MushMonster · 23/10/2020 16:51

How pretty! If we buy all the drinks, can we get in then?

theDudesmummy · 23/10/2020 16:53

I have not RTFT but in South Africa they had several months of no booze or fags...so it could be worse....

IcedPurple · 23/10/2020 16:55

The scary thing is that some people think this pair are doing a great job. I volunteer with two people who think Nicola is doing an amazing job, "keeping us safe". These are however retired, comfortably well off people without school aged children/grandchildren.

An awful lot of people seem to automatically believe that stricter = better. They don't question the reasoning behind various 'restrictions', they don't ask for the statistics which led our 'leaders' to come to their decisions, they just assume that they are 'protecting us' and 'keeping us safe'.

I remember back in March many here were praising Spain for its super strict lockdown, which involved children being confined to their homes (usually small apartments) for weeks on end. Now that Spain has had one of the worst resurgences in Europe, they don't talk about it so much these days.

theDudesmummy · 23/10/2020 16:58

I am in Ireland where officially clothes and shoes are "not essential" (and we are in six weeks of level 5 starting yesterday), but I heard that supermarkets in Dublin and elsewhere are ignoring this and selling as usual...

I personally order everything online but delivery costs are really high here compared to the UK (no free Amazon Prime etc) and that will not be an option for some people...

I am actually in favour of our Level 5, but I don't see how children's clothes can be seen as "non-essential". Adults, as long as you have not changed size a lot (which I have, a bit), can make do with what they have surely, but children grow.

MadameBlobby · 23/10/2020 17:00

@Hotcuppatea

I can't believe that Welsh people are putting.up with this shit to be honest.
I agree That FM sounds like a total wanker
cologne4711 · 23/10/2020 17:10

I don't understand why the supermarkets didn't just tell him to f off. What can he do? There's no lawful basis for restricting their sales unless they choose specific products. For example, you could potentially ban the sale of fireworks (which they are doing) and alcohol and tobacco products because they are easily defined - but just saying "non-essential" is a nonsense and not enforceable.

The supermarkets' legal teams are clearly asleep.

cologne4711 · 23/10/2020 17:10

And the HR teams who are clearly happy for their staff to be subjected to abuse by frustrated customers.

IcedPurple · 23/10/2020 17:12

@cologne4711

I don't understand why the supermarkets didn't just tell him to f off. What can he do? There's no lawful basis for restricting their sales unless they choose specific products. For example, you could potentially ban the sale of fireworks (which they are doing) and alcohol and tobacco products because they are easily defined - but just saying "non-essential" is a nonsense and not enforceable.

The supermarkets' legal teams are clearly asleep.

Because they'd be accused of 'not keeping us safe' and 'putting profits over health'. Not worth it to sell a few duvets or Halloween masks for (supposedly) only 17 days. Don't underestimate the power of Covid as a moral blackmailing tool.
cologne4711 · 23/10/2020 17:16

@dingit

Not welsh, but a few months into the national lock down, I asked our local Tesco if any of the staff had had the virus. Not one. Who are working there many hours a day as opposed to customers who pop in for say an average 30 mins, and pass people fleetingly. I just don't get the logic. In fact I don't get any of it.
My mum says this about her local Iceland too. She said they are mainly very young, but it's still interesting (and somewhat surprising given few people were wearing masks until July).
cologne4711 · 23/10/2020 17:17

Because they'd be accused of 'not keeping us safe' and 'putting profits over health'. Not worth it to sell a few duvets or Halloween masks for (supposedly) only 17 days. Don't underestimate the power of Covid as a moral blackmailing tool

I suppose but it's the legal basis for deciding what's essential and what isn't. And the abuse of their staff. I think they could have argued it.

Ohthatsgreat · 23/10/2020 17:18

Reuter’s reporting the the supermarkets have written to the Welsh Government about banning the sale of non essential items.

uk.mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idUKKBN2781KJ?__twitter_impression=true

IcedPurple · 23/10/2020 17:19

@cologne4711

Because they'd be accused of 'not keeping us safe' and 'putting profits over health'. Not worth it to sell a few duvets or Halloween masks for (supposedly) only 17 days. Don't underestimate the power of Covid as a moral blackmailing tool

I suppose but it's the legal basis for deciding what's essential and what isn't. And the abuse of their staff. I think they could have argued it.

They could. But given that's it's supposed to be only for 17 days they might have considered it not worth the bother. The temporary inability to sell a few scented candles or kid's pyjamas in a relatively small market (Wales) isn't going to put a dent into the profits of billion pound companies like Tesco.
PetitFours · 23/10/2020 17:20

Do you think it might be like during the war and if you get to know one of the staff, and for a price, they'll sell you some silk stockings "under the counter"?

MushMonster · 23/10/2020 17:24

I think it is to the consumers too. I have been looking for any petitions to sign asking precisely that they re-consider this, but I had no luck this morning. They have only given less than 2 days notice, which I think is not acceptable.

MushMonster · 23/10/2020 17:25

I am off to befriend any of them! Anything for a pair of new socksGrin

TooTrusting · 23/10/2020 17:27

What is "essential":
www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-on/shopping/supermarkets-essential-shopping-tesco-asda-19154753.amp

Supermarkets comment:
www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-on/shopping/tesco-asda-coronavirus-essential-sainsburys-19151570.amp

Lightbulbs are non essential 🙄

Mark Dickhead, our Supreme Leader, is a buffoon.

TooTrusting · 23/10/2020 17:27

A reader's comment 🤣

Stricter measures than ever before. Wales to restrict what supermarkets can sell.
cologne4711 · 23/10/2020 17:28

given that's it's supposed to be only for 17 days they might have considered it not worth the bother

I just wonder how it's enforceable.

And how is a lightbulb not essential.

Is it actually possible that someone is even more of a buffoon than BJ?

TooTrusting · 23/10/2020 17:29

Just a thought.
Ladies' "sanitary items" are classed as a luxury for tax purposes and taxed at a high rate. For years the calls to recategorize them and deem them "essentials" rather than luxury items (and therefore subject to lower tax rates and cheaper to buy) has fallen on deaf ears with successive Labour and Tory govts.
Now Mark Dickhead, Supreme Leader of Wales, has announced that during the Welsh lockdown starting tonight we may only buy "essentials" from the supermarket.
The definition includes said items.
They can't have it both ways. If these are classed as essentials then the argument against the luxury tax is won, isn't it?

TooTrusting · 23/10/2020 17:29

@cologne4711

given that's it's supposed to be only for 17 days they might have considered it not worth the bother

I just wonder how it's enforceable.

And how is a lightbulb not essential.

Is it actually possible that someone is even more of a buffoon than BJ?

To your last question. Yes.
TooTrusting · 23/10/2020 17:30

It's not going to be 17 days. It will get extended.
The justification for it (to protect the little guys) is flawed because people will turn to large corporate online retailers.

TooTrusting · 23/10/2020 17:33

To those asking what the logic was in allowing all school years back EXCEPT for the exam years. I asked an AM. It is purely childcare based.
Wales. The country where childcare trumps education.
With 2 periods of quarantine on top, and assuming the 3rd term is revision and exams, my year 12 son has already lost 1/4 of his face to face teaching for his AS levels.

Essexgirlupnorth · 23/10/2020 17:33

I guess if they are selling no essential items people will spend longer browsing than if they are just buying food.
I agree it is stupid was going to wait till half term to buy my daughter a winter coat for school but got one last weekend. Not in Wales but an area that has gone into Tier 3 lockdown.

Buttybach · 23/10/2020 17:35

So if you are a family living hand to mouth and you were waiting until the 1st to buy your kid a Birthday gift for the following week...Its amazon or your kid "Tiny Tim-ing" it on their birthday!!!
He has literally gone batshit crazy!