I believe this constant ramping up of consumer demand is getting out of hand. Boris Johnson said extended hours would be helpful for the economy but I really don't understand why people buying loads of stuff (much of it imported from other parts of the world) helps our economy. In fact, ever-increasing private debt is a worrying trend and in January this year the Guardian reported
Consumer helplines have sounded a warning after Britons ran up their highest level of new debt in November for nearly seven years, with the month’s borrowing on credit cards, loans and overdrafts hitting more than £1.25bn. National Debtline and StepChange said the figures from the Bank of England showed a worrying rise in consumers’ reliance on credit, and warned they expected a rush of people seeking help when the first credit card bills of the year started to arrive.
I also feel that this change will further assist the big players. This may well be the final nail in the coffin for some small shops that have relied on picking up Sunday customers after the supermarkets close.
What about shop workers? No doubt some of them will be happy to work on a Sunday but many with families will feel pressurised to do so and the leisure time that parents can spend with their young families will be further eroded.
There seems to be a relentless march towards 24-hour consumerism and I can't help but wonder if this is a natural or desirable way for people to live.
From September, five London tube lines will run 24 hours throughout the weekend.
I realise that there are some occupations where unsocial hours are an inevitable part of the job - hospital workers, maintenance workers, early morning cleaners, police, etc. etc. Is it really so essential that shops remain open longer and longer? I was shopping at Debenhams in Regent Street two weeks ago and realised that it had gone 9 p.m. I was actually quite pleased as I had gone there quite late and wanted to get some holiday clothes. I queried what time the shop was open till and the sales assistant told me they were open until 11 p.m. that night. She said she was tired and wanted to get home to her family and I suddenly realised that the undoubted convenience of being able to go shopping into the night was at the expense of someone else's health and happiness.
