Reilly: More shops need to stop selling sweets and chocolates at checkouts

Tangatagamadda Chaddabinga Bonga Bungo · 22-05-2014 03:42PM #1

A MOVE BY Tesco to stop selling sweets and chocolates at shop checkouts has been welcomed by government.
Minister for Health James Reilly has said that he hopes it is first step towards other shops taking similar steps.
“The retail sector can play an important role in building a healthier Ireland, not least through supporting our efforts to address the consumption of top shelf food products, such as sweets and chocolate, but in supporting healthier diets overall,” Reilly said in a statement.

Tesco trying to pre-empt a fat/sugar tax?

Minister for "Health" James Reilly needs to stop thinking of ways to tax the fatties and smokers out of the market and concentrate on hospital waiting lists, nutrition and fitness in schools and generally support our population to live healthier lifestyles overall.

**** off state nannyism!!!

Dravokivich · 22-05-2014 03:44PM

Why not attack sweet shops, with the same aggression the head shops got dealt with?

syklops · 22-05-2014 03:45PM

There's no mention of tax in the article.

Daith · 22-05-2014 03:47PM

Why not educate children in schools and turn PE into Health Science and PE?

I'm going to grab a snickers from a vending machine in work. Should offices remove vending machines too as I can't decide for myself anymore.

BBJBIG · 22-05-2014 03:48PM

This Idiot will soon have us stop breathin the fresh air ... cos it's bad for us ...

DamagedTrax · 22-05-2014 03:50PM

that unhealthy looking wannabe dick(tator) needs to STFU and worry about his own obesity levels instead of trying to run peoples lives for them.

oak5548 · 22-05-2014 03:50PM

Theyre not completely removing them from shops. They're placed by the counters for a reason, because people see them and think "ah sure why not" even though they had no plans what soever to buy them.

It makes a bit of sense.

Muise... · 22-05-2014 03:51PM

I'd say anyone who has gone shopping with small children in tow will be glad of this.

Wishiwasa Littlebitaller · 22-05-2014 03:51PM

In fairness, it must be hard to drag kids around a shop avoiding the aisle with chocolates, or at least dragging them down it fast, only to have to then queue in Willy Wonka lane for ten minutes just to pay for your groceries.

Dravokivich · 22-05-2014 03:51PM

Daith wrote: »

Why not educate children in schools and turn PE into Health Science and PE?

I'm going to grab a snickers from a vending machine in work. Should offices remove vending machines too as I can't decide for myself anymore.

You mean to say, there's no choice of what you want to get in the vending machine? :eek:

kylith · 22-05-2014 03:53PM

More parents need to learn how to say no to their children.

castletownman · 22-05-2014 03:53PM

Gone are the days when parents could simply said "no" to their children.

Over-indulgence of children is the biggest contributory factor to childhood obesity imo.

Daith · 22-05-2014 03:54PM

Dravokivich wrote: »

You mean to say, there's no choice of what you want to get in the vending machine? :eek:

A Snickers :P

But just in case one of the girls brings in her kid and the kid wants chocolate too!

DamagedTrax · 22-05-2014 03:54PM

oak5548 wrote: »

Theyre not completely removing them from shops. They're placed by the counters for a reason, because people see them and think "ah sure why not" even though they had no plans what soever to buy them.

It makes a bit of sense.

it would make more sense for parents to teach their kids the meaning of 'no'.

Boom_Bap · 22-05-2014 03:55PM

Daith wrote: »

Why not educate children in schools and turn PE into Health Science and PE?

I'm going to grab a snickers from a vending machine in work. Should offices remove vending machines too as I can't decide for myself anymore.

There is education in schools for this. The Food Dudes visit schools giving advise on healthy eating.

DubDani · 22-05-2014 03:56PM

What about teaching kids?

I have two small daughters and they know that a "No" means actually no. At this point they don't even ask anymore if they can have one, be it at the checkout or in the sweet aisle. When did parents stop being a parent and teaching their kids the meaning of the word "No"?

Muise... · 22-05-2014 03:56PM

castletownman wrote: »

Gone are the days when parents could simply said "no" to their children.

Over-indulgence of children is the biggest contributory factor to childhood obesity imo.

Not a parent, but from experience in supermarket queues, parents saying 'no' to children who are cynically targetted by these displays, leads to ear-splitting tantrums that aren't fair on anyone.

Tangatagamadda Chaddabinga Bonga Bungo · 22-05-2014 03:57PM

syklops wrote: »

There's no mention of tax in the article.

So what?!?

Reilly sought 20% tax on sugary drinks in Budget, records show.

Daith · 22-05-2014 03:59PM

Muise... wrote: »

Not a parent, but from experience in supermarket queues, parents saying 'no' to children who are cynically targetted by these displays, leads to ear-splitting tantrums that aren't fair on anyone.

Fine. Remove the chocolate from the tills but in return parents can't bring kids who are prone to screaming on long haul flights anymore.

DamagedTrax · 22-05-2014 03:59PM

Muise... wrote: »

Not a parent, but from experience in supermarket queues, parents saying 'no' to children who are cynically targetted by these displays, leads to ear-splitting tantrums that aren't fair on anyone.

so sweeping the problem under the carpet (or down the back of the shop) is the answer?

parents need to say no. i'd rather listen to a screaming kid not getting their own way then look at an obese child stuffing his/her face with chocolate and sweets.

long term thinking is needed, not short term placation.

Mental Mickey · 22-05-2014 03:59PM

Tangatagamadda Chaddabinga Bonga Bungo wrote: »

Tesco trying to pre-empt a fat/sugar tax?

Minister for "Health" James Reilly needs to stop thinking of ways to tax the fatties and smokers out of the market and concentrate on hospital waiting lists, nutrition and fitness in schools and generally support our population to live healthier lifestyles overall.

**** off state nannyism!!!

**** off Reilly, you fat c**t.

The_B_Man · 22-05-2014 04:02PM

Its not just the children that are being targeted.
I was in the shops the other day and this woman in front of me, who was massive in fairness, was waiting on the person in front to be rung up. While waiting, her eyes started to wander and she saw the sweets on one side of her. She grabbed a bar of chocolate and then looked on the other side. She saw a bag of sweets.
She then asked the cashier to do a price check on them and then was like "Ah sure they're here now, give me both".

I imagine she went home and polished them both off not too long afterwards. I was watching her, as she was standing right in front of me, and her eyes didnt start to wander until she finished unloading her trolley, and there was a slight delay with the customer in front. By the looks of her, I'd say she's been in this situation many times before!

kneemos · 22-05-2014 04:02PM

Who can afford to buy them anyway?Have you seen the price of a poxy chocolate bar lately.

super_furry · 22-05-2014 04:02PM

How long has it been since we've had a Minister of Health that at least looks healthy?

SEPT 23 1989 · 22-05-2014 04:03PM

all products will be packaged in white with a black text description on them

products will remain locked behind glass and consumer will use their swipe cards to access products

consumer will be allocated a calorie and sugar allowance per month from the State

Davarus Walrus · 22-05-2014 04:04PM

Mental Mickey wrote: »

**** off Reilly, you fat c**t.

Pipe down with your faux online outrage. Have a lollipop or something.

jack of all · 22-05-2014 04:08PM

DubDani wrote: »

What about teaching kids?

I have two small daughters and they know that a "No" means actually no. At this point they don't even ask anymore if they can have one, be it at the checkout or in the sweet aisle. When did parents stop being a parent and teaching their kids the meaning of the word "No"?

+1 on the above sentiments; I have 3 young children and they generally know that I won't purchase sweets when in the supermarket and I will resist all pester power! However with younger children (I'm thinking 4 years and under) it can be difficult, and I think it's no harm to have sweets located away from tills. By the time you navigate around the shop with children in tow they can become restless at the checkout- especially if there's a long queue. If I want to purchase sweets I'll go and look for the aisle plus I don't want to see some other harassed parent trying to deal with a child that maybe having a moment at the till and decides they must have sweets!

kylith · 22-05-2014 04:08PM

The_B_Man wrote: »

Its not just the children that are being targeted.
I was in the shops the other day and this woman in front of me, who was massive in fairness, was waiting on the person in front to be rung up. While waiting, her eyes started to wander and she saw the sweets on one side of her. She grabbed a bar of chocolate and then looked on the other side. She saw a bag of sweets.
She then asked the cashier to do a price check on them and then was like "Ah sure they're here now, give me both".

I imagine she went home and polished them both off not too long afterwards. I was watching her, as she was standing right in front of me, and her eyes didnt start to wander until she finished unloading her trolley, and there was a slight delay with the customer in front. By the looks of her, I'd say she's been in this situation many times before!

Which is why parents need to learn to say no to their kids. Children who don't get a 'treat' at the tills all the time are less likely to grow into adults who buy themselves a 'treat' at the till.

Caliden · 22-05-2014 04:12PM

castletownman wrote: »

Gone are the days when parents could simply said "no" to their children.

Over-indulgence of children is the biggest contributory factor to childhood obesity imo.

These are Celtic Tiger parents, they've never heard the word 'no' in their life.

"Can I have a 100% mortgage?" "Sure, no problem!"

DamagedTrax · 22-05-2014 04:17PM

when we were younger, dad brought us a packet of sweets or chocolate on a friday evening after work. on a sunday we probably got a sweet dessert. we all grew up healthy and fit and we'd rather eat savoury than sweet.

its not hard to do. i did it myself with my son, now he's unbelievably fit, into every sport and prefers not to eat crap.

Call Me Jimmy · 22-05-2014 04:23PM

kylith wrote: »

Which is why parents need to learn to say no to their kids. Children who don't get a 'treat' at the tills all the time are less likely to grow into adults who buy themselves a 'treat' at the till.

This is true. I was born n' raised on stinger bars and now I'm a mess.

Reilly: More shops need to stop selling sweets and chocolates at checkouts

Comments