# Do you want your milk in a bag? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 8, 2015, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-want-your-milk-in-a-bag/714510 "2015-03-08T06:24:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2015, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-want-your-milk-in-a-bag/714510/61 "2015-03-11T17:47:57Z")
Let’s see- you grab the pitcher with one hand, and unclip the bag with the other hand. You pour some milk, then reclip the bag. Why does life have to be _so hard_? ---
**Author:** ![leftfield6](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leftfield6/32/18780_2.png) [@leftfield6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leftfield6)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2015, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-want-your-milk-in-a-bag/714510/62 "2015-03-11T18:03:04Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > Let’s see- you grab the pitcher with one hand, and unclip the bag with the other hand. You pour some milk, then reclip the bag. Why does life have to be _so hard_? Yeah, but you had the whole multi-step pitcher/bag preparation step, I believe there was cutting, clipping, and other tools involved. For those of us here in the southeastern US, here is our process [ul] [li]buy milk in jug[/li][li]put in fridge[/li][li]remove from fridge[/li][li]unscrew cap[/li][li]pour[/li][li]replace cap[/li][li]put back in fridge[/li][li]repeat as needed[/li][li]when empty, put in recycling bin[/li][li]go back to store[/li][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2015, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-want-your-milk-in-a-bag/714510/63 "2015-03-11T18:10:34Z")
A few decades ago, I tried to purchase some milk at a store in Montana. The clerk looked me in the eye, and stated in a firm voice: “Paper or plastic.” Knowing that Montana’s gun laws are, well, it’s more like they aren’t, I trembled slightly, and tried to hand her some cash, but getting tangled up nervously digging about in my pocket for some. She continued with her steely gaze, and s-l-o-w-l-y r-e-p-e-a-t-e-d, “P-a-p-e-r o-r p-l-a-s-t-i-c.” The milk jug was made of plastic, so I bleated out, “plastic, please,” and proffered an indistinguishable grey-green handful of bills. She took some bills from my hand, gave me some coins in return, and also gave me a look that is hard to describe – a pitying glance with a shake of her head. And then she placed the plastic milk jug into a plastic shopping bag. Placing a jug of milk into a bag was new to me (our large milk jugs in Ontario had handles), and plastic shopping bags were new to me. I left the store feeling much more worldly, thanks to the benefits of international travel. Later that trip I learned that a credit card could be used to pay for groceries, and thus was introduced to international finance. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2015, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-want-your-milk-in-a-bag/714510/64 "2015-03-11T18:10:41Z")
Yes please \*\*double \*\*bag my milk. I always buy half gallons. Its easier to carry multiple bags by the handles. If I only bought milk then yes I’ll carry it without a bag. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2015, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-want-your-milk-in-a-bag/714510/65 "2015-03-11T18:18:09Z")
> [@leftfield6](#): > > Yeah, but you had the whole multi-step pitcher/bag preparation step, I believe there was cutting, clipping, and other tools involved. Our ability to use tools distinguishes us from most other species. ---
**Author:** ![leftfield6](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leftfield6/32/18780_2.png) [@leftfield6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leftfield6)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2015, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-want-your-milk-in-a-bag/714510/66 "2015-03-11T18:24:29Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > Our ability to use tools distinguishes us from most other species. But just because you **can** use a tool does not mean you should _have to_ :D:D:D;) All in jest of course, although I’m pretty sure the use of the term “milk bags” has almost certainly flagged my browser activity to HR. Looks like I’ll be taking that Sexual Harassment training module. Again. ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2015, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-want-your-milk-in-a-bag/714510/67 "2015-03-11T18:28:30Z")
If it’s a gallon (with a handle), I tell them to leave it out of the bag, as I use reusable bags and they take up too much space, but if it’s a half gallon (without the handle), I have it put in a bag as I don’t see how else to carry it. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2015, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-want-your-milk-in-a-bag/714510/68 "2015-03-11T18:35:44Z")
I just lug the cow home. Here’s a helpful consumer tip. That thing under the tail isn’t a finger carrying hole. 😃😃 ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2015, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-want-your-milk-in-a-bag/714510/69 "2015-03-11T21:28:10Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > Another vote for depends. If that was the single item purchased then no bag please. Usually though I am buying a bit more per shop than a jug of milk and milk in a bag with several other items and several other bags is easier to carry. Usually though at this point I’ve been trained to use my own bags. Yeah. If I’m stopping on the way home to grab some milk, I don’t want a bag. If I’m at the store and milk is on the shopping list, I’ll put it in one of the bags I brought with me, along with other groceries. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2015, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-want-your-milk-in-a-bag/714510/70 "2015-03-13T14:55:20Z")
I thought this would be a thread about places where milk is quite literally sold in bags versus cartons or jugs. In any case, if I catch them when bagging I’d rather have the milk separate if I’m buying a gallon jug. It’s no biggie to carry the jug by its handle. If they put it in a plastic store bag I worry the bag will tear. If they put it in one of my tough reusable bags, they’ll put other heavy stuff in there and it will be early impossible to lift. A carton (half gallon or smaller) goes in a bag. ---
**Author:** ![Ruby\_Slippers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/94ad74/32.png) [@Ruby\_Slippers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby_Slippers)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2015, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-want-your-milk-in-a-bag/714510/71 "2015-03-13T19:30:09Z")
I always bring my own reusable bags and I always buy milk by the half-gallon – and yes, I want it in the bag. I don’t have the discipline to go to the store for just one thing and walk out with just one thing. And the refrigerator case with the milk always seems to be as far away from the entrance as possible – they don’t WANT us to walk out with nothing else. If Im going to find a parking space in an overcrowded grocery store lot, walk into the store and all the way to the back, you better believe I’m going to throw a few more things in the basket to make the trip worthwhile! ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2015, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-want-your-milk-in-a-bag/714510/72 "2015-03-15T19:48:00Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > The milk jug was made of plastic, so I bleated out, “plastic, please,” and proffered an indistinguishable grey-green handful of bills. You Canadians 😛 The denomination of each US bill appears on it **16** times. Eight times in numerals in each corner on both sides, and then again eight more times written out (each numeral on the back has it written out as a word over the numeral, then written out again twice more on each side). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-want-your-milk-in-a-bag/714510.md?page=3)