Do you think grocery shops and retail shops should start charging a price for each plastic bag used......?

I completely understand what you are saying. You think that ppl should use the cloth reusable bags. I would agree except for one thing. When I go grocery shopping I use the plastic bags in my small trash cans around the house. This way the bags get more than one use. If I went out and bought the cloth bags then I would have to buy small plastic trash can bags. They would only get one use then out they go. This to me defeats the whole purpose. I have not found an ulternitive to trash bags yet.

No, it would serve no useful purpose, it would simply put additional burdens on those least able to support themselves.

No....these shops rob us enough as it is...and to think they would charge us for a carrier bag too!....what a bloody cheek is what I say...huh!

It is not up to the shop keepers to rectify this issue. It would be hard for someone in the business of selling groceries or other items to justify to a customer that they are now going to make a profit on the bags to discourage customers from using them because of the good for the environment. Believe it or not, stores and other businesses already bear more burden then consumers in so many areas. Our trash costs more to pick up, we pay more for our water, natural gas and electric then a homeowner. We pay numerous fees and taxes that have nothing to do with how we run our businesses or how much money we take in. Its amazing how much is pushed off on small businesses just because we don't have a big voting block. What we need is a more socially acceptable replacement. Reusable bags should be pushed more and made to be an acceptable replacement in society.

No, I don't think there's anything wrong with plastic if you recycle it. I don't think there's anything wrong with smoking, either :)

I don't think this is the best way to do it. I think making durable biodegradable plastic bags, coupled with not issuing plastic altogether is the answer. Whole Foods is doing that already, and they use 100% compostable paper bags. Once it happens most people won't miss plastic bags at all. Those who use them for waste at home can buy specific bags for that.

No not at all. I think that all this "plastic' stuff is a overexageration. I feel it isn't half as harmful as people makeout like it is.

They already do in many parts of the World, like South Korea where I live now. I don't use plastic bags and take my own bags but a lot of people use plastic bags despite the fee. I think shops should simply stop providing bags...

I do think they should be charged...if they where then people would actualy bother re-using their plastic bags. britain alone uses enough plastic bags a year to stretch tothe moon and back 6 times!!!!!