With the lockdown in effect, shops have been told to sell only essential items.
Unfortunately, Easter eggs have been labeled as “non-essential” so corner shops have been instructed not to sell them. Police and council authorities gave out these instructions to some location shops.
These guidelines follow on the heels of Boris Johnson’s order instructing all “non-essential” retailers to shut down while the coronavirus outbreak is raging in a bid to slow down the spread of the disease.
Local convenience stores and newsagents may remain open only if they are selling critical items such as medicine and food. But the government was specific about what items stores may or may not sell apart from this.
Supermarkets, pharmacies, banks, and Post Offices are allowed to remain open during the lockdown. Other shops that are allowed to stay open include pet shops, veterinary clinics, gas stations, launderettes, off-licenses, and hardware stores.
James Lowman, chief executive of the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS), called the banning of Easter eggs a “misreading of the rules” because there is “no definition of which products can be sold.”
He told the BBC that “only a few” members had been instructed to stop selling Easter eggs without indicating the exact number.
He said: “In the cases where officers have challenged retailers and shoppers in this way, it’s brought confusion, distracted retailers in the busiest weeks of their lives, and increased the interactions between people.
“Our published advice to retailers – that they can sell whatever they would normally be selling – can be relied on by anyone signed up to our assured advice scheme.”
The ACS advises conveniences stores to get in touch with them online if they want to clarify what items they’re allowed to sell.
But Downing Street clarified that shops that are classified as essential can sell what they want.
A spokesman for the Prime Minister said: “We have set out which shops can remain open.
“If a shop is allowed to remain open it will, of course, sell whatever items it has in stock.”
Martyn James, a consumer expert at Resolver, a complaints tool, said: “Sticking to the rules in a crisis is important – but overreacting officials are eggs-asperating things for people just wanting to celebrate Easter.
“Buying an easter egg with the shopping isn’t breaking the rules – and we all need a little cheering up right now.
“Hopefully, this is just a one-off incident from the fun police – or maybe they were just yolking…
“Either way, I hope common sense prevails and people are allowed an eggstra treat this Easter after all.”
Replaced!