The 5p carrier bag charge has taken the fun out of shopping

Remember when shopping was bags of fun?

Now, I want to save the planet as much as anyone else.

But I’m cheesed off with shopping and not being able to have clothes, food, toiletries, shoes, a bottle of wine and books put neatly, thoughtfully and automatically into a bag by the assistant without facing the BIG question.

Did you remember to bring a used plastic bag with you? Or do you want to pay yet another 5p for another plastic bag that you’ll forget to bring with you next time? Such a dilemma.

I heard of a woman who bought a beautiful new coat in the January sales from a posh Glasgow store. Even on sale it cost £245. No bag was offered. She wasn’t for paying another 5p.

She did think they might have offered their large paper bag with the store’s logo on it. Does paper destroy the planet just as much as plastic?

The sales assistant shook her head.

The woman paid for the coat, said, “I’ll take it with the hangar”, and walked out of the shop with it over her arm. Fuming.

I know how she felt. It kind of spoils the enjoyment of shopping. Remember when it was fun to buy things and have them packed in the store’s bag?

Now we have to carry around grubby old plastic bags and re-use them endlessly or pay umpteen 5ps and feel we’re single-handedly polluting the planet.