ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has called for clarity and support from the government as retailers and other businesses prepare for the end of legal social distancing and face covering requirements on 19 July. ACS has been attending meetings and engaging with officials across government, and says its members need:
- A clear expectation about whether they can set policies on social distancing and face coverings, for the safety of their customers and colleagues;
- High level support from government making clear that business policies should be respected and that abuse of shopworkers and others for implementing these policies will not be tolerated;
- Clarity on whether the government sees adhering to social distancing and wearing face coverings in shops as best practice.
ACS chief executive James Lowman said: “We are already hearing mixed messages from the Prime Minister, other cabinet members and advisors. If the public are being asked to act responsibly, specifically what are they being asked to do? Can operations ranging from transport networks to local shops set policies on social distancing and wearing face coverings, are the government asking people to respect those policies or to exercise their own judgement, and will the government support business in implementing these policies?
“Our members will be faced with a group of customers who are uneasy about the lack of restrictions, and a group who are eager to move on from social distancing. We cannot support everyone without government messaging that customers should respect business’s policies. The tensions in government messaging will play out not in the corridors of government departments but on trains and buses and in the aisles of shops.”
ACS is taking its plea for clarity and support to meetings with the Cabinet Office and other government departments this week. ACS will also be issuing new and existing resources to support retailers in their communications with customers.
