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.

Kids are back for the week after half term so let's hope none need a new coat

I'm actually thinking of buying some new underpants. Does anyone know who I need to contact for a list of government approved underpant retailers?

@Hotcuppatea

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

Not like we can do anything about it, is there? Election isn't until next year and they are even trying to use covid as an excuse to postpone it.

It's interesting how much effort they put into telling people they can't buy a pair of socks from a supermarket as compared to the amount of effort they put into working out how to hold an election during a pandemic.

The rules don’t come in until tomorrow eve other clothes shops are shut so I can see his logic.

Well, not for the next two weeks when you're meant to be staying home 🤣
If you believe that it will stop at 17 days then I admire your optimism. Did you know that they have taken the word "gullible" out of the dictionary?

See you in two months.

It's not about controlling ppl.
It's about evening the playing field for smaller retailers. How can you say a clothes shop must close but Tesco can sell clothes? The same with DIY products etc.
I'm sure you can get a coat/pants online.

I don't understand how this helps small businesses... People will just order from the larger retailers online. It's all so ridiculous.

@MJMG2015 the kids are going back to school after half term so a coat is definitely essential.

Quite.

@Jacobabear we are a third world country check out the stats.

Well, not for the next two weeks when you're meant to be staying home 🤣

Probably more essential than ever while all we can do it s go out for walks!

@Funkypolar

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.

I’m staying well away from Mumsnet over Christmas if that’s the case. It was almost laughable and quite scary in March/April. Some posters really lost the plot, it was worrying.

I can see it now - “wrap your presents in tin foil! No one needs wrapping paper (think of the environment!!) and I don’t care if you have three children, you should have stopped at one for the planet - turkey isn’t an essential item, eat the toddler instead”.

@BoobsOnTheMoon

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.

Now that would make sense, but it wasn't framed that way. I understood it as if you threw a pair of socks into your shopping basket, the shop assistants (lucky lucky them) would have to tell you that you can't have them.

And how on earth do you decide what's essential? I would say clothes are essential, especially if your kids are growing - and half term might be the one time you can actually get out to get some. The man is power-mad and not very intelligent.

"Evening out the playing field" sounds very dubious from a legal perspective. You can't ban some retailers from selling things because other retailers selling the same items are closed.

It sounds like a massive boost for Amazon and online retailers generally.

Sorry to pick on this particular poster, but I'm so sick of hearing disingenuous comments like this. Obviously a tin of beans doesn't have any special antiviral qualities, but the fewer items people are allowed to buy, the less time they will spend in the store and the fewer people they will come into contact with while they are there

Nonsense. Most people will walk down most aisles on their weekly shop. Throwing a magazine or pack of pens or pair of socks into their trolley takes extra seconds, that's all.

And how do you define what is essential? It's also very unfair on supermarket staff who will be subject to a lot of abuse - even more than usual.

Daft theories usually don't work in practice.
So it isn't going to happen as everything a supermarket sells is essential from baked beans,milk,cake,olives etc to clothing, kettles & printer paper.
Sainsburys, Tesco, Aldi etc won't want their customers rioting so it's not going to happen.

I do think these restrictions to not sell clothes in a supermarket are a bit bonkers. They don’t follow the evidence. Retail is not the biggest transmitter however I guess the cumulative effect of people traveling to town, mixing, using public transport, meeting up might have.

Obviously a tin of beans doesn't have any special antiviral qualities, but the fewer items people are allowed to buy, the less time they will spend in the store and the fewer people they will come into contact with while they are there

If the aim is "less time in the store", then you make the restriction that, trying to get the aim with alternatives which might lead to the same effect causes confusion and misunderstanding of the rules, one person spending an extra 5 minutes moaning with the manager about why they can't buy some socks will take up all the benefit of 10 people not taking 30seconds extra to put socks in their basket.

Do you even have any evidence that that is the aim? It seems to be something you've made up, the politicians say it's about the problems of equality with shops who are forced to close, do you know better than them?

I can't believe all the replies here. It's only 2 weeks! It does sound a little bit silly but it's hardly a big deal. I can manage for 2 weeks without having to buy clothes.

Yeah it was only “2 weeks” In scotland to shut hospitality. Oops - it’s just been extended

@CeeJay81

I can't believe all the replies here. It's only 2 weeks! It does sound a little bit silly but it's hardly a big deal. I can manage for 2 weeks without having to buy clothes.

It’s because it runs deeper in people’s minds than that. It’s a restriction of freedom of choice which is quite worrying. Once one thing slides, another follows and before you know it, you are living in a horrific situation of control.

I'm really pissed off about it tbh. For weeks all the big towns/cities have been in lockdown so I haven't actually been able to go to proper high street shops for a while already. And now I can't even buy a jumper from the supermarket while I'm there already. Yet I could order that exact same jumper at home online and get it delivered to the same supermarket for collection. Total madness!
I think Drakeford is overstepping. This doesn't help small businesses - it just helps Amazon and the like.

It was only 2 weeks in Scotland.

But now oh look. It’s being extended which everyone knew would happen