Essential retailer?

[Oldbagface]

I've just noticed on Instagram that our local Superdrug store will remain open during lockdown. They don't have a pharmacy. I am now genuinely confused. How can they be classified as an essential retailer?

I thought wine stores off licences were classed as essential because going through uncontrolled withdrawal can be deadly for alcoholics.

(I realise the original question was about Superdrug, but as a general point about how 'essential' is a very broad category because it varies so much between people.)

I get Superdrug as it sells medicine etc. I don’t get how a wine company is an essential store whatsoever.

@Oldbagface

I'm not a Muppet or a tit thank you very much. It just seems odd when these things can be picked up when doing the weekly shop. No need to be so fucking rude is there?

Not ONE poster called you those names...if you actually read the posts you’d have seen this instead of jumping down people’s throats!! Jings.

They are definitely essential. They sell medicine and plasters etc.

I believe there was some concern about people having alcohol withdrawal issues and causing the NHS more problems?

@MsInsomniac

No I know they won’t be open on Thursday but they are cramming them in now to drink up... other pubs are doing the same. It’s like a 2 day long happy hour

Given that they won't be able to sell their beer as takeaway this time pubs are probably desperate not to have to throw gallons of it away and lose thousands, at a time when they're going to be hit hard anyway. Particularly local pubs as opposed to chains who will be losing huge amounts of revenue in the run up to Christmas and have no financial cushion to fall back on, given they've been closed for most of this year already.

They should all have covid measures in place and be adhering to local regulations at the risk of being fined £10k, too, so I very much doubt they're 'cramming them in'.

@IceCreamAndCandyfloss

I get Superdrug as it sells medicine etc. I don’t get how a wine company is an essential store whatsoever.

Keep morale up?!

@MsInsomniac I completely agree with you! It won't work and then everyone will blame the government when we are locked down over Christmas! My son works doing a job with very expensive cars ( completely non essential) and has been told they are staying open because they are classed as " manufacturing" 🙄

Surely it would be a restraint of trade if only the supermarkets were allowed to stay open to sell plasters, OTC medicines and all the other stuff that you can also buy from Wilkos, Superdrug, Majestic etc. Means they hoover up all the profits. Having all these shops remain open is fairer and should cut queues/transmission.

Judging what's essential is a bit subjective. However I think it would be unfair for a lot of shops to be forced to close when the same goods can then be purchased from the huge supermarkets and amazon.

The more shops that can be left open, the better. No need to close non-essential shops in any case, in my opinion. Shopping isn't exactly a high transmission activity. Give retail a fighting chance.

@Ihopeyourcakeisshit
I didn't call you a Muppet or tit. You inferred it
Best response to a thread in a while, love it!🤣

Lots of places sell cleaning products and can stay open including a garden centre i know if who sells pet food so they can continue. Even though you can buy pet food in supermarkets. Same for cleaning items.
Savers boots and super drug were open in my town last time around and had long queues.

Wilkos sell pet food and cleaning items , so that's why they stay open even though my friend who works in one said most people were buying DIY things mostly and arranging a meet up with their friends in the queues!

I've just signed a petition for dog groomers to remain open. Animal welfare shouldn't suffer.

If you can afford to buy antihistamines, paracetamol etc at the prices the supermarket charges, you're welcome to do all your shopping there. Some of us have to shop around.

We have 2 super drugs and while the city centre one was closed, the retail park one was open. Unlike the nearby boots, they didn't interrogate you about what you were going in for, so they get my custom quite regularly. Handy with such a dire hay-fever season, this year, if nothing else.

Wilkos sell a lot of DIY, hardware products, often in town centres. I think that's fair they should remain open.

Boots, Superdrug, B&M, Poundland, Poundstrecher etc. Open throughout first lockdown too.

What's confusing is that if you sell one essential thing your whole shop can stay open. Surprised all the shops on the high street don't start stocking tampons. I wouldn't mind if they did!

Our Boots had a person on the door who asked so many questions I was put off going in there again. I was going in for meds. Savers were strict but fair and super drug were lovely.
It was stressful during the last lockdown but I can see why they were like it.
Will the supermarkets go back to the arrows on the floor?

Here we go again. Last time round, a poster claimed milk and bread weren’t essential. Seriously, OP, stand down: you are not required to police our lockdown.

Oh yeah, put cheese in your coffee instead !

I think it is unfair the big supermarkets will clean up again but the majority of what they sell is important. People won't want to go into town and queue up in bad weather and most big stores have free parking which they don't in town ( I doubt our council will have free parking again )
They will be the only ones making a profit out of this next lockdown with deals on alcohol and what not.