Annoyed all over again!

I approve of payment for plastic bags for any purpose. When it becomes law in England I suspect we will quickly get into the habit of carrying bags with us if we have to pay for the consequences of forgetting. There are very many lightweight shoppers, rucksacks etc. and every time one is used that's one less carrier bag to become litter or end up being recycled.

Our M&S gives bags for clothes and charges for bags or food. I'm all for cutting down on the number of plastic bags we use but when I bought some china in Tesco this week each piece was wrapped in several plastic bags! Surely they could organise a supply of tissue paper at the tills.

Yes, no big deal.
Why object to shops keeping the 5ps, btw? Obviously businesses have to pay for their carrier bags and previously chose to give them away but now have to make a charge. They are entitled to keep that money if they want to.

It's been law in South Africa too for ages.

Wales introduced the carrier bag charge in October 2011 - so we have had plenty of time to get used to it. Shops are required by law to charge at least 5p for every bag (plastic or paper) that you use. It applies to everything, even the brown paper bags that McDonald's put take-away items in. The shops are allowed to retain the charge for themselves if they want to, but most donate it to charity.

The big supermarkets are quite used to customers carrying re-usable bags from their competitors - nobody finds it strange now. If you buy clothes, the shops will always offer you a bag, you have the choice whether to have the bag and pay 5p for it, or take your goods without a bag.

When this was introduced in Wales it was heralded as being "something new", but in fact Germany, Austria, and some of the Scandinavian countries have had similar laws for much longer than Wales.

Ana I didn't manage to keep a man for life, I'll be no good with a bag!

I'd take an Aldi one into M and S and see what they say, lol.

B and Q annoy me with this as most things are bulky but usually with some small bits too and no bags? When I have just spent loads of money? I'll take an Aldi one there next time, or Primark. Now they only do paper, and don't charge.

I have asked a man in the park today for a doggie bag as I forgot to take one with me.

Except for the more robust Bags for Life from supermarkets which are 10p, but you can exchange them when they get torn or wear out.

jane10, no, my username comes via a few variations from baggythecrust but you're right, my bag-readiness since the new law came in does make thatbags seem very appropriate!

gknot, Organised and Practical are my middle names , not that you can tell sometimes!

And it doesn't matter if it's a plastic Asda bag or a posh designer labelled carrier for a garment, they're all 5p

YABU IMO. Since October last year it has been the case in Scotland that if you want a carrier bag you have to pay 5p for it, whatever it's for. No big deal; if you pay you'll get one, but it's not difficult to carry some - see thatbags above. As Coolgran65 says, there are benefits - fewer witches knickers hanging from the trees. Sounds good to me, and I have a range of cloth and plastic bags to use as I was already in the habit of refusing plastic bags anyway.

As Jane10 has said, it isn't the law yet in England, so of course shops put clothes etc. in bags automatically. I think it's due to become law in 2016.

Those of us who live in Scotland, Wales or N. Ireland have had to get used to it - and there is no leeway given where clothes are concerned. You either pay for a bag, use one you've brought with you or carry the garment out over your arm!

I think with things like clothing they need protecting, food products can just go into ordinary bags but you would not want to mix the clothing and food in the same bags.

I always ask for the receipt to go into the bag as I have lost many receipts from stuffing them into handbags and purses. I take my stash of bags when I go food shopping but rarely when I go clothes shopping. Could do better!

I thought "biodegradeable" polybags just disintegrated into tiny particles of polythene and end up in big rafts somewhere in the worlds oceans poisoning wild life. I don't think they are truly truly biodegradeable, as paper bags might be.

They cause a hell of a mess when I find the odd one in the my shed and the tiny bits of plastic fall about every where. The work of the Devil.

I bought some jeans in M&S recently and they just automatically put them in a bag.

You have to pay for a bag for food shopping but in our M&S you automatically get a free bag for clothes. I have always been given a free bag in any shop for clothes. I don't see how they can do otherwise - they need to be clean.

Here in N. Ireland we don't get bags in M & S, or anywhere. We buy one if we want it. It doesn't take long to get into the habit of having a very small lightweight nylon fold-up in the corner of a handbag. Primark do one for a £1 and its pretty good.

The bonus.... there are no plastic bags lying about the roads, in the hedges, or hanging from tall trees.

Once used to it, it's well worth it.

Its not the law in England yet so you should be ok for a while. If coming up to Scotland or Wales be prepared!

I like your style * Glamma*

Our M & S puts clothes in bags automatically.

I do carry a folded bag in my everybag bag for emergency purchases always have done for years but there is no way I would expect to make a purchase of underwear as you did Jane and be expected it to be shoved across the counter as your purchase was,indeed the purchase would be shoved back and a refund requested pronto.Service is service at the end of the day.

We could all get revenge by taking out a supermarket carrier bag to transport our clothes in and waving it about proudly! Maybe Waitrose, just to get up their noses...

I bought something the other week, and was given a bag. Oh dear. I usually buy my underwear there, it's a good job my handbag is so big!

I'm with Jane. I find it infuriating when shops won't give me a bag. I refuse to pay for one. Why can't the shops come up with something biodegradeable? As for M and S, last time I was in there they did provide bags for clothes, and so they should, but I gather it won't last Grrr..

I hadn't realised they did this but I do have a thin canvas bag carefully folded in each of my handbags so I always have one handy.. means I don't have to remember as there is always one there when needed.

My local M&S still puts clothes in bags... or did up until last Saturday when I bought a cardigan, - free of charge (the bag, not the cardigan!)
I do always carry a fold up shopping bag in my handbag though.

Well impressed Bags with your organisational skills. I always take spare plastic bags with me and I invariably leave them in the car.