Sunday Shopping Hours

**Hazell B** · 23rd Dec 06, 18:04

Only half heard this on TV news, so forgive me if it's not right enough for the pedants among us.

Tesco, ASDA and some other stores are opening tomorrow for an extra hour above the legal sunday opening (shopping) hours and the church is complaining about it.

Are they complaining because they think I can't be allowed to shop for 7 hours or because they think I can't tell the difference between a shop and a church at 9.30am? Either way, how very dare they? If I wanted to go to church, I'd go. If I wanted to shop, I'd shop. I know the difference!

Staff can say they won't work it perfectly legally. Few staff would be needed above the normal sunday hours anyway, as it is not a time that will include checkout or sales.

Much as I like sunday's to be limited hours, I can see why this year's Christmas Eve is the perfect time to allow an extra hour to browse and queue to pay. Without it, large store will be utter chaos as everyone will be attempting too much in too little time. Those few minutes will at least ease the checkout rage.

For the record, I won't be shopping tomorrow at all

**jso1985** · 23rd Dec 06, 19:13

That's the kind of stuff that makes churches look stupid

**Ian McC** · 23rd Dec 06, 19:20

The wife doesn't work Sundays so no visit to Tescos tomorrow

**Brown, Jon Brow** · 23rd Dec 06, 20:15

Tomorrow Booth's is open from 9:30am - 4:00pm but we can't sell anything untill 10am

I have to be there from 8:30 till 4:00

**Alfa Fan** · 23rd Dec 06, 20:19

Originally Posted by Brown, Jon Brow

Tomorrow Booth's is open from 9:30am - 4:00pm but we can't sell anything untill 10am

I have to be there from 8:30 till 4:00

Which one do you work? It can't be the one in Lancaster? If so, I'm sure you've served me before...

**Brown, Jon Brow** · 23rd Dec 06, 20:27

Not Lancaster,

Garstang!!!! On the fresh food deli.

**themo** · 23rd Dec 06, 20:53

Well said HAZELL B

**Drew** · 23rd Dec 06, 20:55

Why on earth should it be up to the churches to decide?

Surely, if the majority of the population were strong Christians and refused to shop on Sundays, then there would be no demand for Tesco etc to open, so this isn't the case.

Grr, separation of the state and religion, please!

Article here:

http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm...u=news.science

**J4MIE** · 23rd Dec 06, 22:32

Not a problem up here

Just need to get some fresh stuff for christmas lunch.

Managed to get the last frozen turkey in Dundee today... 9.2kg

**BeansBeansBeans** · 23rd Dec 06, 22:40

Originally Posted by Drew

Surely, if the majority of the population were strong Christians and refused to shop on Sundays, then there would be no demand for Tesco etc to open, so this isn't the case.

Exactly.

Christians are free to have their day of rest on Sunday, but non-Christians should be free to work or shop if they want to.

**cos** · 23rd Dec 06, 23:26

Originally Posted by Drew

Why on earth should it be up to the churches to decide?

It's not? As far as I can tell they are just concerned that the retailers adhere to the Sunday trading legislation. It's only that Christmas Eve is on a Sunday this year (and so many people have left shopping until the last minute) that this has become a "story".

Article here:
http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm...u=news.science

I'm sure stores have had an extra half-hour or so "browsing time" on Sundays for many years, why is this suddenly a big issue now

**BobbyC** · 24th Dec 06, 03:37

We have such a rule where I live:

1. "General Merchandise" stores cannot open before 1330. (Note supermarkets or pharmacies are exempt.)

2. Alcohol may not be sold between 0000h Sunday until 0600 Monday.

3. Sporting events may not be held on Sundays before 1330 with two exceptions -- (1) college events, (2) motor races with a distance of 400 km or greater scheduled distances. Professional events are exempt if the television contract mandates.

The rules are written out of respect for the churches. An incident in the 1970's showed the power of the churches in our state.

On 2 April 1978, the Cooper River Bridge Run cannon fired for the first time on a Sunday morning at 1000 hours. Over 1,000 runners entered the first point-to-point event from Patriots Point to White Plains Gardens at the Battery. Runners collapsed from the heat during the race, and because the course ran through Meeting Street in Charleston, with churches everywhere on the route, complaints came when the city's main street in the Peninsula was closed for the run, especially from the churches of having runners on the path.

For the 1979 event, and continuing since then, the Bridge Run has been held on a Saturday morning, where over 45,000 runners and walkers participated in the 2006 event.

Our state's major athletics event, the Bi-Lo Myrtle Beach Marathon, is also run on a Saturday because of concerns by churches since at least six churches are on the Marathon route.

The blue laws in the state are there for a good reason. They don't want idiots buying booze at the casino, doing an illegal street race on the main road to church.

**Drew** · 24th Dec 06, 13:20

Originally Posted by cos

It's not? As far as I can tell they are just concerned that the retailers adhere to the Sunday trading legislation. It's only that Christmas Eve is on a Sunday this year (and so many people have left shopping until the last minute) that this has become a "story".

I'm sure stores have had an extra half-hour or so "browsing time" on Sundays for many years, why is this suddenly a big issue now

Ok, so perhaps I could have phrased that better. The church has always been in the way of Sunday trading and always had some power, but Sunday trading managed to get through. But I believe there is one island in North Scotland where the church has much more power and the holy day is still observed.

**Dave B** · 24th Dec 06, 13:39

I've got the perfect solution.

Tesco have branched out into clothes, electricals, pharmacuticals, restaurants, finance, mobile phones, internet services, insurance.....

Why not a Tesco instore Church?

You could have Value prayerbooks, Finest communion wine, and a 17 year old trainee vicar.

It all makes sense.