Grazing the Aisles

When did grocery stores become eat as you shop restaurants?

At first I thought it was a generational trait that it was young people who for some reason did not know any better. However, I have begun to notice that this disorder affects people of all ages, races and economic status.

I am sure that anyone who might read this rant has noticed the same thing. Shoppers who despite their outward appearance obviously suffering from malnutrition because they are unable to shop without opening various packages so they can snack while the prowl the aisles of the local grocery store.

Experts have been telling us for years that shopping on an empty stomach was a bad idea. Their theory being that you will make more impulse buys rather than purchasing what is on you list. Obviously the experts missed the boat. Shopping on an empty stomach leads not only to impulse buying but an epidemic of impulse eating and drinking.

As of late shopping at my neighborhood chain market has bordered on the repulsive. Walking the aisles in search of the items on my list I have more than once found myself face to face with a mouthful of Cheetos or Fritos or Doritos. Not only that but when the premature eater ingests all of these salty products they find themselves dying of thirst and they are overcome by an uncontrollable impulse to open their Pepsi or Coke product and take a big swig, followed by a belch of inhuman proportions.

I could almost understand this behavior if the person grazing the aisles was a child who was obviously hungry, homeless or helpless. Lately though the herds grazing the aisles have been made up of people that I see everyday in the neighborhood. (No close friends though, that would be rather awkward.) Nevertheless these are people who are not lacking nourishment in any sense of the word. They are healthy well fed individuals who have by their own volition decided that it is now socially acceptable to digest the food before you buy it.

The people I feel sorry for are the checkers. They have to scan these half eaten products, covered with grease or saliva and keep their opinion on this behavior to themselves. The stores must expect their employees to turn a blind eye to these actions because I have yet to see a manager or an employee ask someone to refrain from digesting products that have not been purchased.

What happened to the days when shoppers were horrified if a child sampled a grape, a nut or a candy from the bulk candy bin?