Annoyed all over again!

In London this only happens if you pay for clothes in the food dept checkouts at all other checkouts at M & S still give free bags for clothing.

... covering all size eventualities. .

If I don't have a bag on me, I ask for one if not offered, and I've told before how I did that in Boots and the woman serving me leant over the counter to check the size of my handbag (or that's I assumed). It made me cross so I walked out.

Is that why you chose your user name thatbags?! I always have a food shopping bag FYI but not a clean spare bag stowed in case of impulse buys. Think I'll stick to online shopping. Lots of packaging there!
England has a lot to look forward to when this policy hits them. Its badly thought out.

Jeepers bags you are super-organised. The type of brain I have, I carry one bag only, a largish one.

Three because they are different sizes: small, medium and large.

If you want a plastic bag—to prevent such potentially embarassing happenings at supermarkets checkouts, for instance—you can ask for one, and pay for it.

I now carry three carefully flattened and folded plastic carrier bags in my shoulder bag, to cover most eventualities. They don't take up much space and they don't weigh much.

Also, you have to be very careful to keep the receipt, especially on small things that you put in your pocket or handbag.x

DH recently bought a suit, in Scotland where there is a no bag policy.
The sales assistant asked him if he had brought a suit carrier with him! x

I didn't realise M&S had started doing this
Certainly my local store put the bits I bought in a bag last weekend. I know you have to pay for one if you buy food.
How exasperating!

Reasonable

It is reasinable for checkout staff to ask if you want a bag.