Ever decided to tuck into a chocolate bar that you intend on buying as a means of keeping you going whilst doing a ‘big shop’ at the supermarket?
Don’t worry, you’re not the only one.
You may want to wait until you’ve left the shop next time though because, according to Rachel Adamson – Criminal Law Specialist at Adkirk Law in Southport – this actually is against the law and very few people even realise it.
Granted, now that the wearing of a face mask / covering is a mandatory requirement in all supermarkets and shops in England – with fines now sitting at £200 for a first offence (reducing to £100 if paid within 14 days) and increasing to a maximum of £6,400 for repeat offences – tucking into a packet of crisps, cereal bar, some grapes, or whatever your chosen snack is probably not feasible, but it’s right to assume it could be in the future.
Whenever that day comes though, you might want to think twice about it.
ADVERTISEMENT
Just bear it in mind.
Flickr
It’s not the only seemingly innocent act that is actually against the law either, as Rachel adds that: “Worryingly, new legislation is also catching people out such as the illegal use of wi-fi, or the illegal downloading of music or certain documents, which now seem entirely natural to do without asking.
ADVERTISEMENT
“It is also illegal to send unsolicited mail [by post] to another person without their consent under the data protection laws and people have been prosecuted for it.”
She added that we all need to “be careful” and that we should “consider the possible consequences before we engage into some of these things – you could be breaking the law on something important and end up in court.”
“Take advice first if you are in any doubt.”
Trending
Home Bargains has announced a special two-day closure of all UK stores
Emily Sergeant
Home Bargains has, once again, announced it’ll be closing all its UK stores on both Boxing Day and New Year’s Day this year.
And it’s to make sure staff get a ‘well deserved break’.
After what has been yet another busy year for the retail industry, many workers have been left feeling like they could do with a little extra time off, which is why Home Bargains is following on with what has become a now-annual tradition by shutting up shop on two bank holidays.
All of our stores will be closing for Boxing Day & New Years Day.
Announcing the move in a post on social media, the discount retailer confirmed: “All of our stores will be closing for Boxing Day and New Years Day. We would like to thank all our colleagues for how hard you have worked this past year, and want you to relax and enjoy the Christmas break with your loved ones.”
Of course, this isn’t the first time the retailer has kept its doors shut on bank holidays.
Many shoppers will recall it has made the same decision to give hardworking staff a break every year since 2019.
Explaining a little more about the decision taken to close all its stores, Home Bargains said: “As a family-run business, we know the importance of being together at Christmas with those we care about most, now more than ever.
“This is our way of saying thank you to our colleagues for their continued hard work and dedication.”
Featured Image – Geograph
Trending
Two Greggs in Manchester will be serving their breakfast menu in the evening next week
Emily Sergeant
Who says breakfast has to end at 11am?
In news that’s set to be music to the ears of breakfast lovers in Manchester, Greggs is giving them exactly what they want.
We all know that brunch is a ‘thing’ by now, so now it’s time for brinner to make a name for itself instead, as Greggs has teamed up with Heinz to bring its much-loved breakfast menu back for tea time, kicking off from 4pm onwards.
The move comes as a new survey has found that the majority of Mancs (69%) admit to enjoying eating breakfast food in the evening, saying it’s ‘convenient and comforting’ – even ranking breakfast as a ‘more important’ meal than tea, as well (38% vs 36%).
Two Greggs in Manchester will be serving their breakfast menu in the evening next week / Credit: Greggs (Supplied)
Greggs says it has ‘lost count’ of the amount of customers that have tried to order breakfast items after the usual cut-off time, especially in Greater Manchester.
But luckily for those breakfast-loving Mancs, they can finally get their favourite breakfast and sauce pairing long after the morning rush is over next… but only at two Greggs branches, and only for a very limited time.
On Wednesday 14 and Thursday 15 October, the Heinz x Greggs Brinner collab will be available at Greggs St Mary’s Gate and Greggs Oxford Road, from 4-7pm only.
“We’ve lost count of the number of customers who have tried their luck ordering breakfast after 11am, so when Heinz came to us with the idea of making Brinner a reality, it felt like the perfect excuse to give the people what they want,” explained Zoe Harris, who is the Customer Director at Greggs.
“And let’s be honest, a Greggs Bacon Roll just wouldn’t be the same without a squeeze of Heinz Tomato Ketchup.”
Emily Sergeant -
29th September 2020 
