For thirty years now, shops in the UK have only been allowed to open for six hours on a Sunday:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunday_Trading_Act_1994
Should this rule be removed?
I think it should be removed. It feels outdated now and it makes a mockery of the fact that smaller shops can stay open. Also, all other businesses, like restaurants, hairdressers, bars, cinemas, etc can stay open all day, so why not shops?
And people should be able to shop whenever is convenient to them.
I get one reason originally for having them was that they're supposed to be to give small stores an advantage over the supermarkets. But now big supermarket chains have their own smaller versions of stores, so can stay open. So that's another reason why this law is outdated.
I don’t mind this law to be honest. I like to see Sundays as my lazy day and Tesco Express is near my house. Only annoying this is that banks are pretty much closed all weekend. Like mine closes at 12:30pm on a Saturday and isn’t even open on a Sunday. I know some other banks are not open at all at the weekend.
That's interesting to me because all activity used to stop from Saturday afternoon til Monday morning here, and now Sunday is just another business day (more-or-less. Don't expect to go to the bank!).
I'd quite like to see it being changed. Admittedly, I am usually able to work around it, but there's always going to be those rare occasions when it's annoying.
Given that shops were previously
completely closed on Sundays prior to the introduction of the current law in 1994, I get the impression that the existing law was brought in as a compromise to placate some of the people who wanted shops to stay completely closed. But now, it does feel kind of outdated.
One question, though: how easily would the shops be able to find extra staff to stay open for longer?
Unemployment is actually relatively low now, at 4.4%.
(06-24-2024, 09:31 AM)Shiny Star Wrote: [ -> ]I don’t mind this law to be honest. I like to see Sundays as my lazy day and Tesco Express is near my house. Only annoying this is that banks are pretty much closed all weekend. Like mine closes at 12:30pm on a Saturday and isn’t even open on a Sunday. I know some other banks are not open at all at the weekend.
Sure all employees need a break but then again they can always hire ppl for shifts right? Just like other hospitality businesses, not sure why shops are discriminated against

(06-24-2024, 08:59 PM)~ True Legend ~ Wrote: [ -> ] (06-24-2024, 09:31 AM)Shiny Star Wrote: [ -> ]I don’t mind this law to be honest. I like to see Sundays as my lazy day and Tesco Express is near my house. Only annoying this is that banks are pretty much closed all weekend. Like mine closes at 12:30pm on a Saturday and isn’t even open on a Sunday. I know some other banks are not open at all at the weekend.
Sure all employees need a break but then again they can always hire ppl for shifts right? Just like other hospitality businesses, not sure why shops are discriminated against 
That's true. I'm not sure what goes on behind the scenes but maybe having Sundays as the shorter day actually brings in more money per hour on that day as people panic buy. In my town, ASDA is open 24/7 other than on Saturdays where it closes at 10pm and Sunday where it closes at 4pm. I assume the downtime when the shop is closed can be used to help stock shelves, move isles around etc. I would also like to think that by having Sundays off, it means that parents are more guaranteed to be able to spend time with their children and friends as a fair amount of people work the 9-5 office job.
Realistically, it's one day a week that we need to be careful not to buy from main shops.
I personally would rather shops were open even less on a Sunday. As a Christian, I believe that Sunday ought to be a day of rest - and I spend the morning and early afternoon at church anyway, so it's almost as if the shops are completely shut to me!
I understand that there are lots of people who aren't Christians and I don't really wish to enforce my beliefs on them, but if I'm given the choice I'd choose for only the essential workers to be working on Sundays.
(07-24-2024, 05:54 PM)Pyrite Wrote: [ -> ]I personally would rather shops were open even less on a Sunday. As a Christian, I believe that Sunday ought to be a day of rest - and I spend the morning and early afternoon at church anyway, so it's almost as if the shops are completely shut to me!
I understand that there are lots of people who aren't Christians and I don't really wish to enforce my beliefs on them, but if I'm given the choice I'd choose for only the essential workers to be working on Sundays.
Hmm or maybe it could be optional though tbf. Surely there’re some who don’t work on Sundays. Most restaurant roles are part time anyhow so ppl get to choose their shifts.
I think Sunday opening hours should be extended at least... say like to eight hours or something. Just my humble opinion.
(09-19-2024, 05:47 AM)Mindphaser Wrote: [ -> ]I think Sunday opening hours should be extended at least... say like to eight hours or something. Just my humble opinion.
I think hours in general should be extended imo. Just bring different ppl in for shifts
