Do you eat and drink in shops?

[beachandboho]

Saw the thread on eating in cinemas and it reminded me of a recent gripe of mine.

I work in a small gift shop and it has amazed me to watch the number of people who think it's ok to eat and drink in there. The shop sells gifts, homewares and clothing. I was always brought up that it was a big no-no to eat or drink in shops, especially clothing stores. It seems to be a growing trend these days. I've had people come in eating meat pies, cakes, ice creams etc plus all sorts of drinks. And it is kids just as much as the adults. People wonder why their kids are getting so fat. Can't they walk around for an hour while shopping without having something in their mouth? It makes me uncomfortable to watch a 6 year old walking around holding a bottle of coke. Call me crazy, but kids can be clumsy.

Do you think it's ok to eat and drink anywhere you please? Am I old fashioned? Would you walk into someone's house eating a meat pie out of a bag? Or eating a cake and dropping crumbs everywhere? Why do people think it's ok to do it in a shop?

Would love to hear the thoughts of others. 

[punch*drunk]

I wont allow my kids to eat and drink in shops, but I have on occasion walked through the likes of Target with a covered cappuccino in hand, I wouldnt start handling anything whilst eating or drinking though, it would just be a quick walk around the place, a bit like window shopping. Never a clothing or gift store though.

[downeyas]

No I don't - taboo - put a big sign up saying no eating or drinking in this store - another pet dislike? people coming into shops not wearing a top grrrr

[beach_and_home]

yep, put up a sign. It should really go without saying, but seems things have changed.

No top? um, I assume you mean guys?

[zelly888]

Isn't that why the shopping centers have food courts? and another thing that's worse than seeing a young child drinking a can of coke and that's drinking an energy drink it's 80-90% caffeine for goodness sakes.

[beachandboho]

Aside from the fact that it is creating bad habits for kids by allowing them to eat and drink all day non-stop. It is a bit dangerous allowing them to do it in a shop with all those clothes and expensive things around. Most people would never ever ever let their kids go to someone's house and walk around on the carpet eating food or drinking soft drink. They don't even let them do it at home. Feels like a real lack of respect when they let them do it in shops.

I even had one family walk in with a little boy around 5 years old holding a package of hot chips in paper and eating them. I actually had to say something, the mother was just going to let him walk around like that putting greasy fingers on everything. Am I over-reacting or was that really rude of them?

[debra9275]

no I would never walk into a shop eating or drinking & neither would any of my family. To me it's bad manners

[beachandboho]

I get the feeling that most people know it's wrong. Like a kind of unwritten law. But sometimes people get slack. It seems to get worse over school holidays. The shop I work in is in a seaside tourist town. I think sometimes people on holidays do things they wouldn't normally do. Like walking around eating and drinking.

The thing is, that people eating or drinking never ever ever ever buy anything. They are just passing the time. So putting up a sign is not going to lose any business? I guess if people really want to buy something they will come back?

[debra9275]

a seaside tourist town?  They must be on holidays and a bit too relaxed perhaps

I don't think putting up a sign will lose you any business , you may not be able to enforce it though. Hopefully it will make people think about what they're doing lol

& as you say, if they see something they want, they will come back 

[lloydslights]

I don't even like watching people walk down the street drinking their GJ's coffee.  The way I was brought up was if you are hungry/thirsty, sit down to eat and drink at a table or on a bench in the park.

And I also agree, why can't people do without eating for an hour or so?

DEB