The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has urged consumers in Wales not to blame shopkeepers and staff for a new carrier bag charge, which is being enforced by the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG).
Shoppers are being advised to take their own bags when planning purchases and the BRC is also putting pressure on the WAG to remove any confusing elements of the new rules.
"We still believe education and encouragement, rather than compulsion, is the best way to achieve lasting customer change, said BRC head of environment Bob Gordon. "But bag charging is now a reality in Wales and retailers are ready for it."
"If the Welsh Government is right and customers are in favour, avoiding confusion will be key to keeping them onside. Saturday is a busy shopping day when a lot of part time staff are on duty. To avoid flashpoints at tills, customers need to know that charging is the choice of the WAG not retailers or their staff."
He added: "The WAG also needs to explain and address anomalies which mean that, for example, you can have a free bag with a carton of chips but not if it comes with a burger in a box. Or a DIY shop can give you a bag for 500 screws but not for five or six."
