Plastic bag charge: Five of the most English reactions

Shoppers at all supermarkets and large shops will be charged 5p for plastic carrier bags from Monday.

You'll still get a free bag if you're buying raw meat or fish.

Anyone buying prescription medicines, fresh flowers, things like potatoes and unwrapped ready-to-eat food such as chips will also get a bag free of charge.

But that wasn't enough for some in the southern nation.

The news seemed to send an icy chill down the spine of England.

Everyone in England forgot England wasn't the only country in the world

Quite a lot of other places around the world have introduced a 5p-per-plastic-bag rule, including Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

It's been law in Wales since 2011.

Scotland and Northern Ireland introduced their charges in 2014 and 2013 respectively.

"Scotland, Wales and NI have managed it, but how are WE supposed to cope paying for plastic bags?!" posted Katie McGarvey from Glasgow.

"How will England survive the 5p charge? It's the end of the world! It's not like Wales has been doing it for years or owt..." posted Holly Mae from Wales

Other countries that have tried to limit the use of plastic bags include the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, Rwanda, Kenya, China, Italy, Bangladesh.

Mexico City and the US state of California have also imposed bans.

That hasn't stopped some alarming headlines.

In Wales, the plastic bag charge meant use by customers dropped 71%. Scotland and Northern Ireland have also seen significant drops in usage - 12.8% in Scotland and 42.6% in Northern Ireland.

English customers can be fierce

Many made fun of the headlines screaming about chaos at the tills. However some supermarket workers posted tweets saying they were not looking forward to work because of the change.

"Mentally and physically preparing for nine hours of torrent abuse today at work to taking away free plastic bags" posted @a_elx, 18, from Surrey.

"Now ima have to count plastic bags at work as if working on tills aint stressful enough :((((" posted Kath.

"I actually deal with so much rudeness at work and its so hard to keep composure," she added.

"Am so glad that I don't have work until Saturday. Quite concerned about how the customers are going to take the bag charge. #plasticbags :(" posted Danielle Marchant

D"Dreading the #plasticbags situation at work today, total #scenes," posted Lauren Pines.

And if people posting comments beneath plastic bag articles were serious in their anger, it's worth sparing a thought for those working on the tills.

Rebel insurrection

English people are well known for loving a freebie. Some commenting on articles had a plan to inconvenience shops and fight the bag plans.

One of the most popular acts of protest seemed to be to do a full shop, put it all through the checkout, then refuse to pay for bags.

Others thought they should be paid to carry the bag as most often the feature a logo and so advertise the shop. At the very least they weren't happy about providing their advertising services for free.

A number of people posted that they would be turning their bags inside out.

Many planned for the 5p charge, posting tweets that urged people to do it in September.

Entrepreneurs

Suddenly the English saw they were sitting on a gold mine.*

*Lots of plastic bags in a drawer/cupboard/kitchen hidey-hole.

Many saw the new plastic bag rules as a chance to finally put their long-forgotten balled-up plastic bags to good use.

Smug tweets saw people posting pictures of plastic bags. Only the English.

More pictures of bags were posted on social media than have been for some time.

Meanwhile others rallied their marketplace spirit and proposed to sell their old plastic bags outside shops for 4p.

"I have been stockpiling free plastic bags for a long time, and am now prepared to sell them for 4p each," posted Richard Osman.

"If anyone needs me I'll be on Penge high street selling plastic bags. 4p."

Sadly, there is no charge for people who make the same joke again and again on social media.

People suddenly began thinking about plastic bag usage like they never had before.

People suddenly had dozens of questions regarding bag usage at supermarkets.

Would bags still be charged for at express stores?

Yes.

What about home deliveries?

Yes, you'll pay a flat rate. There are other options too though.

What about bags at self service tills?

Well at Tesco, the self service till will ask how many carrier bags have been purchased and then add that to the total cost of the shopping.

There were more questions too, like where does the money from the bags go to? More of your questions on plastic bags answered here.

And finally, as you made it this far...

Here is a picture of a turtle.

Campaigners argue that plastic bags blight streets, spoil the countryside, and damage wildlife, seas and coastline.

Ministers think introducing a 5p charge will stop shoppers using as many new bags, and encourage people to re-use old ones.

Turtles will thank you. Sea turtles can mistake plastic bags for jellyfish, but eating them can be fatal. Rare leatherback turtles live in Scottish waters.

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