Can shops still insist on customers wearing face masks?

I believe, as already mentioned, they can set their own rules.
I, for one, was never particularly comfortable with being 'huffed' on by someone so close to me - even pre covid times.
Working in retail, I know how scary the whole thing has been. Playing 'covid roulette ' with my life each day played havoc with my mental health.
I'm assuming from the tone of your post, you don't wish to wear a mask. Maybe you'd like to consider the poor people risking getting covid to make sure your eyes are OK. It's surely such a small thing to ask for a small period of time.

I’d definitely wear one to see the optician - they get up really close. I still wear a mask to see the doctor and at my hair salon. However, I stopped wearing a mask when I went to Tesco's, but yesterday, I had a rethink….. I was about to pass a couple of men - neither of them were wearing a mask - and one of them coughed and didn’t cover his mouth. I nearly jumped through the wall to get away from him. I will now wear a mask when I go to Tesco’s.

GraceQuirrel

I would vote with my feet and cancel the appointment telling them why. They have no legal right to enforce it. Or, just wear one (under your chin) and look the part!

They have every right to impose conditions including mask wearing, and to refuse admission if you won't comply. Another astonishingly selfish poster.

Think it’s because come under health and as you have to wear one in hospital dentist and chemists etc. I wore mine with no thought about it. I mean would you want a total stranger face in yours. I no I don’t so I don’t see a problem myself

We, as a family all continue to wear masks in indoor settings, transport etc.

DS and wife recently spent a week on holiday somewhere warm. They wore a mask within the hotel and restaurant, removing them to eat.

A British lout assaulted them using very ripe language mocking their use of masks.

Son stood up and louts wife then intervened and dragged the lout away. The hotel staff said that it is only the British who behave like this over masks.

What is it with these types?

All the other nationalities wore masks - it was only a certain type of British that refused.

I remember buscuitmuncher proudly announcing that she/he wouldn’t have the covid vaccine, and then came up with all sorts of ridiculous reasons why not.

The asbestos comment leaves me speechless.

GraceQuirrel

I would vote with my feet and cancel the appointment telling them why. They have no legal right to enforce it. Or, just wear one (under your chin) and look the part!

Another selfish poster.

Of course they can enforce it. They can refuse entry if they want to, it’s a private firm not public access.
You have no idea who has what. In an enclosed environment it makes sense to wear one to protect both you and the optician.

JenniferEccles

I remember buscuitmuncher proudly announcing that she/he wouldn’t have the covid vaccine, and then came up with all sorts of ridiculous reasons why not.

The asbestos comment leaves me speechless.

All her comments leave me not speechless but on the point of telling her to go forth and multiply

A shop or business can refuse to serve you, or even refuse you entry onto the premises without giving a reason.

I am saddened by the selfish and irresponsible posters on here, who only care about themselves, or perhaps they are just very ill informed and can't be bothered to actually find out any information about the implications of catching Covid.

A few months ago, my cardiologist talked about his time in Covid ICU. He said he could never have imagined the damage he saw to hearts in Covid patients. The experience in Covid ICU had affected him and his colleagues very badly.

I wonder what would happen, if the selfish posters on here needed emergency, hospital treatment. Would they refuse to wear a mask, if asked?
I had a heart attack during Covid and had to wear a mask in the ambulance, A&E and the receiving ward. It was only after I was taken to a Covid free, high dependancy ward and had tested negative, was I allowed to remove it. I had absolutely no gripe about wearing it, despite feeling really unwell.
Then again, I am well informed and know the implications of catching Covid for people like me and passing it on to others.

It doesn’t matter whether it’s a shop, a health service or anything else. It’s their premises and they are entitled to make the rules (as long as those rules are not sexist or racist). They could insist that you wear a green headscarf and speak only in Chipewaw if they so choose. Of course they would lose business by enforcing it but that is their problem not yours. In short - their house, their rules.

I think @biscuitmuncher has been munching the alternative biscuits. You make no sense in any of your points. Clearly not a scientific person or rational enough to see the evidence and facts as they are.
Someone up thread said they are science deniers - holocaust and moon landings deniers too. Absolutely agree with you. What utter drivel.
If you disagree with a thread walk away. Not spout utter nonsense from nowhere.
Off you go enjoy your alternative biscuits and leave people on this thread alone.

Biscuitmuncher

Dickens do people who clear away asbestos wear paper masks? No, because they are pointless, and Lucca I wouldn't expect someone to wear a mask for just my benefit

Asbestos particles are not the same as viral particles - they are a fine dust particle and thus a paper mask is not suitable when you are removing the stuff. That's why they use - or should use - respiratory masks.

You are going to bend yourself out of shape to prove your 'point' aren't you?

And in response to your reply to Lucca - the idea of mask-wearing is to protect others, as well as yourself to a lesser degree. It's what civilised societies do when faced with a public health issue... and I'd wear a mask for your benefit if necessary.

Have the last word if you want. You're anti-mask wearing and coming out with all the usual anti-masker rhetoric. I think I'll stick with the science and what is known so far about it by those who understand the field in which they work, rather than a random gran who hasn't given any science-based data to back up her argument. And please don't point me to some unknown individual ranting on YouTube who's done his 'research' and can prove that 'masks don't work'...

Why would you have a problem with wearing a mask at an opticians.
You will undoubtedly be close to the optometrist and a dispenser during your appointment.
Wearing a mask protect them as well as yourself. I was at Specsavers yesterday and was impressed by their hygiene standards.

We wear our masks when indoors with lots of people, like supermarkets or public transport and we treat our masks with respect. Neither of us has had Covid yet (as far as we know) and although we probably will get it at some point would like it to be down the line a little when the hospitals aren't so full just in case we do need help. All our family wear masks in the same way. So far only some of the children have had Covid.

I really don't care what other people say about wearing masks. No one else cares whether I get Covid.

There are still people who refuse to wear seat belts too. People who think you can get pregnant from using a loo seat after a man. People who think the gas chambers were fictional. I don't listen to them either.

I’m all in favour of wearing a mask when in close contact with my optician or hairdresser, both of whom are still wearing face coverings. Covid hasn’t gone away and we must still protect the vulnerable.

GraceQuirrel

I would vote with my feet and cancel the appointment telling them why. They have no legal right to enforce it. Or, just wear one (under your chin) and look the part!

I imagine they'd be very glad not to have to deal with someone like you.

Why are some people so babyish and silly about wearing masks? You would swear they were being asked to stick pins in their eyes.

The government have really got it made haven't they, so easy to scare people into believing anything

Biscuitmuncher

The government have really got it made haven't they, so easy to scare people into believing anything

You need a brain to be scared.

Ergo Biscuitmuncher must in fact be scared.

I’m glad they do, opticians are up close and for several minutes

I’m pleased to hear this is I think it’s responsible. Unlike another high street retailer: I know someone who works in their café (very popular with a certain demographic who stop for a coffee once they’ve bought their knickers) and the staff have received notification that they should go to work if they have Covid. She tested positive last week, went to work but was so ill she was sent home. She doesn’t know if she’ll be paid.
It’s madness this should be the case.

Have you seen the latest research that severe Covid can age your brain by the equivalent of up to 20 years? That is on top of all the circulatory and other problems that some people continue to suffer after Covid. Even if you get it mildly, it can leave you with fatigue (low stamina) for a long time after you test negative. I speak from experience there. Just not worth the risk - end

I won't shop anywhere where I'm asked/told to wear a mask.