The supermarket habit that is illegal in the UK

Ever decided to tuck into a snack that you intend on buying as a means of keeping you going whilst doing a big shop at the supermarket?

Don’t worry, you’re not the only one.

You may want to wait until you’ve left the shop next time though. 

According to Rachel Adamson, criminal law specialist, snacking while you shop is is against the law.

Snaking while you shop is illegal. Picture: PA

She said: “While you might have the honest intention to pay for a chocolate bar that you’ve eaten while shopping in a supermarket, it is still technically illegal under section 6 of the Theft Act 1968.

“Buying a product at the till is what transfers the ownership from the product belonging to the shopkeeper, to it belonging to you.

"And only when that sale is complete do you have the legal right to consume or use it.

"If you eat the chocolate before you legally own it, you are permanently depriving the owner of his right to the product – he can no longer refuse you the sale or take the item off the shelves.

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​“In another example, it would be like redecorating a house before you’ve exchanged contracts or spray painting a car while it’s still in the showroom. Even with the honest intention of buying the product, you shouldn’t alter or use something that isn’t yours.”

People on Twitter argued in-store snacking policy is basically "Survival 101" when shopping with young children.

Another tweeter compared eating before paying at the store to eating before paying at a restaurant.

They said: "I'll sometimes get something to eat or drink, while I'm walking thru the store. It's also always the first thing I buy as well. I have never not paid for anything opened by me or my children in the store.

"You go to a restaurant, order food, eat it, then pay for it, no different."

Others, however, deemed messy munching to be a "safety issue".

One wrote: "There is a safety issue as well. People tend to be sloppy & a piece of wrapper, damp food or liquid could easily cause someone to fall.

"Crumbs everywhere are never a good idea."

Some people, particularly those who claimed to be grocery store employees, supported the stance that eating before paying is, in fact, stealing.

One added: "As a manager at a grocery store, I view it as stealing if you eat something before paying for it. If you’re that hungry, pay for the item you wish to eat first and then continue shopping."