Cereal Offenders

The early morning rush. You’ve all been there. You’re late again for your 9:15 (your housemate’s having yet another forty-five minute shower), open the fridge, realise that despite the fact your milk carton is green, its contents really shouldn’t be, and run to Costcutter, without having the time to get out of your pyjamas (instead opting for some really casual £150 Jack Wills joggers).

Due to the country’s consistent lack of forward planning, not forgetting a decline in milkmen, Tesco has just banned its customers from wearing pyjamas, slippers, or walking around barefoot in store. The nation’s favourite supermarket has expressed that wearing nightwear whilst shopping may offend other customers. One shopper was in sheer disbelief at the ban, and understandably so; she’d been banned even though she deliberately wore her very best pyjamas with bears and penguins on them. She was later escorted off the premises by a security guard. Another customer remarked that she’d be “going to Aldi now”.

I’d sympathise with the shoppers’ frustration if it was commonplace to see others wearing nightwear outside (well, off campus) but it really is very rare to see anyone wearing pyjamas whilst shopping elsewhere. So, why is it deemed acceptable to walk around a supermarket in nighttime attire, which you’ve likely slept in for several hours previously? Not only is it pretty unhygienic, but it just doesn’t look good. The agonising rush around the supermarket is terrible enough without having to witness indecent exposure from a flustered mother with no shoes on.

It’s also important to remember that it’s illegal to drive without wearing shoes and that it’s simply stupid to walk around outside without sufficient footwear. I’m sure you’ll agree, as a fellow educated civilian, that getting changed before leaving the house is far more preferable than grocery shopping in nightwear.

Perhaps Tesco is aiming to be yet more middle class by simply eliminating their less intelligent clientele with their new pyjama ban.