# This stupid fucking bag ban in California **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 27, 2016, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-stupid-fucking-bag-ban-in-california/773112 "2016-11-27T00:02:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2016, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-stupid-fucking-bag-ban-in-california/773112/141 "2016-11-27T21:10:11Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > I hate the bag ban, one supermarket I regularly go it has that system in effect, many times I didn’t shop there because I had no bag and don’t want to buy reusable bags as I have enough of them. > > There just gotta be a better way, perhaps each bag has a return stamp on it os I can get them next time. Perhaps I should be able to bring my reusable bags back in bulk for a refund or just store them there. I wouldn’t have a problem with remembering bags. I go into my house straight from my garage. I could easily make a habit of running into the garage and putting the bags back in my car after I put my groceries away. Then they’d be in the car for the next time. ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2016, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-stupid-fucking-bag-ban-in-california/773112/142 "2016-11-27T21:29:51Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I also wonder if some people here have just never shopped at Aldi. I don’t think they’ve ever given away free bags, bag bans or not. You either buy a sturdy bag, or bring your own. I’ve never much heard of people complaining about that (and it also tends to draw shoppers on tighter budgets than your average supermarket.) This is exactly where I first encountered it and you are correct that people there are more on a budget than most elsewhere, and I’ve never seen any problem. However, I’ve heard others that do not shop at Aldi’s complain more about the shopping cart “fee,” even though that’s a misnomer. And the fact that by leasing the buggies while you purchase things helps with so much… 1) they’re always dry, 2) since they’re never left in the parking lot, they don’t ding anyone’s vehicles, and 3) after you return them, your lease of them was free during the length of your stay. But finally, the most important part is that because they don’t pay cart pushers to chase the damn things everywhere, their overhead is lower and, voila!, prices remain cheaper. So, win-win-win. Great idea. Yet, people who have no clue can’t help themselves from bitching. Go figure. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2016, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-stupid-fucking-bag-ban-in-california/773112/143 "2016-11-27T21:44:42Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > But we do use those plastic bags for other stuff. We would re-use them all the time. Don’t know if this has been mentioned already, but I wonder if places with a plastic bag ban are seeing an uptick in dog leavings. I always used to save plastic grocery bags to carry with me on dog walks. I regularly decline offers from cashiers to put purchased items in plastic shopping bags. It’s a waste and it helps clog landfills and increases litter (a plastic bag caught by a tree branch is a lovely sight). But I think it’s a better idea to educate people on alternatives than to enact laws. Unsurprisingly, California does not feel that way. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2016, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-stupid-fucking-bag-ban-in-california/773112/144 "2016-11-27T21:55:05Z")
California lead the way with indoor smoking bans. How does the rest of the world like that now? ---
**Author:** ![pidgeon92](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/50afbb/32.png) [@pidgeon92](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pidgeon92)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2016, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-stupid-fucking-bag-ban-in-california/773112/145 "2016-11-27T22:46:16Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Don’t know if this has been mentioned already, but I wonder if places with a plastic bag ban are seeing an uptick in dog leavings. I always used to save plastic grocery bags to carry with me on dog walks. > > I regularly decline offers from cashiers to put purchased items in plastic shopping bags. It’s a waste and it helps clog landfills and increases litter (a plastic bag caught by a tree branch is a lovely sight). But I think it’s a better idea to educate people on alternatives than to enact laws. > > Unsurprisingly, California does not feel that way. While plastic grocery bags are banned, plastic produce bags aren’t, at least not in Chicago. I buy a lot of produce, and collect a lot of these bags. I like them much better for picking up dog waste. They take up less space in my pocket, and are easier to manipulate when picking up the waste. ---
**Author:** ![Waxwinged](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c2a13f/32.png) [@Waxwinged](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waxwinged)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2016, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-stupid-fucking-bag-ban-in-california/773112/146 "2016-11-27T22:50:08Z")
Speaking from a point of view of a person with 4 cats (grocery store plastic bags are -lovely- for the litter box duty), I still can’t summon up the outrage about the ban. It’ll reduce waste and make people more likely to use the darned reusable bags. Like… currently, in our household, we’ve got 6 reusable bags, but we bring them to the grocery store -maybe- once a month. There’s simply no sufficient incentive to do otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2016, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-stupid-fucking-bag-ban-in-california/773112/147 "2016-11-27T23:18:04Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#): > > You’re absolutely right about this. Isn’t it odd that liberals, who claim to be the champions of the poor, are often so contemptuous of them, as in this thread? How many of the sneering posters here have been in a position where 10c _matters_ and its lack can mean the difference between buying something you need or going without it? Stupidity tax indeed! Fucking unfeeling assholes. Thankfully we weren’t this soft during WWII. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2016, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-stupid-fucking-bag-ban-in-california/773112/148 "2016-11-27T23:25:21Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > California lead the way with indoor smoking bans. How does the rest of the world like that now? New Zealand has had laws against indoor smoking since 1990. Admittedly said law didn’t apply to hospitality venues until 2003, but even so, the general “don’t smoke at work etc” law predates California’s by several years, from what I understand. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2016, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-stupid-fucking-bag-ban-in-california/773112/149 "2016-11-27T23:27:13Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > Thankfully we weren’t this soft during WWII. During WWII? You mean when we reused and recycled everything we could for the war effort? We certainly weren’t a bunch of whining pussies who complained about reusing bags. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2016, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-stupid-fucking-bag-ban-in-california/773112/150 "2016-11-27T23:30:44Z")
> [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > New Zealand has had laws against indoor smoking since 1990. Admittedly said law didn’t apply to hospitality venues until 2003, but even so, the general “don’t smoke at work etc” law predates California’s by several years, from what I understand. California’s restaurant and bar ban started in 1995. Various municipalities banned it a few years prior. Workplace bans were started in the 80s. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2016, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-stupid-fucking-bag-ban-in-california/773112/151 "2016-11-28T00:13:27Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > California’s restaurant and bar ban started in 1995. Various municipalities banned it a few years prior. Workplace bans were started in the 80s. Wikipedia seems to have a reasonable [rundown here](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smoking_ban#History). Apparently, San Luis Obispo, California, was the first city in the world to ban smoking in bars as well as restaurants. I have to say, stepping into a bar without seeing anyone smoke was really weird for me the first few times, but it’s quite nice now, even as a once-in-a-long-while smoker. I never did think I would get used to it, but I did. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2016, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-stupid-fucking-bag-ban-in-california/773112/152 "2016-11-28T00:27:34Z")
The City of Los Angeles banned smoking in restaurants prior to the County of Los Angeles. Despite the sprawl of L.A., there are lots of small municipalities that surround it and you’re never more than a ten minute drive from anywhere in L.A. to one of them even with traffic. The restaurant and bar owners in the city limits threw all kinds of fits because they were sure they were going to lose almost all of their business to places in the other cities. Guess what? Business was actually way up in the places with no smoking. Can anyone imagine choking on that shit anymore? ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2016, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-stupid-fucking-bag-ban-in-california/773112/153 "2016-11-28T01:32:39Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > I regularly decline offers from cashiers to put purchased items in plastic shopping bags. It’s a waste and it helps clog landfills and increases litter (a plastic bag caught by a tree branch is a lovely sight). Why does your accepting a plastic bag contribute to litter? You should take personal responsibility and ensure that the bags you are given don’t end up in tree branches. I just spent five years in a country with stupid bag ban laws. Sure, I bought bags when I needed them, but it’s sure nice to know that part of the service that I pay for when I shop is included. If this were a real problem, the market would solve it. Hey, Aldi is competitive, after all. Why legislate this? ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2016, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-stupid-fucking-bag-ban-in-california/773112/154 "2016-11-28T01:40:53Z")
> [@Balthisar](#): > > Why does your accepting a plastic bag contribute to litter? You should take personal responsibility and ensure that the bags you are given don’t end up in tree branches. > > I just spent five years in a country with stupid bag ban laws. Sure, I bought bags when I needed them, but it’s sure nice to know that part of the service that I pay for when I shop is included. If this were a real problem, the market would solve it. Hey, Aldi is competitive, after all. Why legislate this? This was by initiative, not legislative action. A majority of the voters wanted it. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2016, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-stupid-fucking-bag-ban-in-california/773112/155 "2016-11-28T01:43:43Z")
Just wait until they start taxing the sodie pop in **Rigamarole** ’s neck of the woods. His head will simply EXPLODE out of empathy for the Poors. ---
**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2016, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-stupid-fucking-bag-ban-in-california/773112/156 "2016-11-28T03:14:41Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > I hope **Rigs** has more concern for the poor than he has for [some passed out homeless dude](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=402348). Has this been addressed by the OP? Your empathy for “the poor” having to pay a dime for a plastic bag is so great you are moved - nay, driven - to pit the law, but when a homeless guy may actually be dead or dying, you’re like “meh. Let 'em freeze. I don’t wanna get involved by calling the police”? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2016, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-stupid-fucking-bag-ban-in-california/773112/157 "2016-11-28T03:17:37Z")
I don’t think that’s uncommon; it’s a lot easier to care (or pretend to care) about theoretical others than to care about a real person in front of you. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2016, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-stupid-fucking-bag-ban-in-california/773112/158 "2016-11-28T05:57:14Z")
> [@PatriotX](#): > > From what I can tell it’s largest impact is on someone who has poor planning skills and who is poor enough to receive public assistance but who is not receiving public assistance… > > But we should try to compensate for everyone who has problems planning everyday activities. [The _undeserving_ poor don’t need _less_ than the deserving poor; they need _more_.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qHDYU1-viM&t=274) ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2016, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-stupid-fucking-bag-ban-in-california/773112/159 "2016-11-28T19:39:42Z")
> [@Balthisar](#): > > I just spent five years in a country with stupid bag ban laws. Sure, I bought bags when I needed them, but it’s sure nice to know that part of the service that I pay for when I shop is included. **If this were a real problem, the market would solve it.** Hey, Aldi is competitive, after all. Why legislate this? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Oh, wait, were you serious? ---
**Author:** ![Azeotrope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/0ea827/32.png) [@Azeotrope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Azeotrope)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2016, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-stupid-fucking-bag-ban-in-california/773112/160 "2016-11-28T19:56:23Z")
> [@raventhief](#): > > Has this been addressed by the OP? Your empathy for “the poor” having to pay a dime for a plastic bag is so great you are moved - nay, driven - to pit the law, but when a homeless guy may actually be dead or dying, you’re like “meh. Let 'em freeze. I don’t wanna get involved by calling the police”? It makes you wonder. If he were in line behind the poor, sickly, little old lady he’s squawking about so much in this thread, and she only had exactly enough money for her groceries but forgot her shopping bag and didn’t have a spare dime for a store bag, and she’s upset because she really needs all this stuff and can’t just carry it all because she has to take two buses home and her arthritis is flaring up, would he: A) Give her a dime and turn her day around or B) Give her the stinkeye from behind as she debates which item to leave behind, because she’s holding him up, but he’s not gonna step in because he doesn’t want her to learn to expect charity? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-stupid-fucking-bag-ban-in-california/773112.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-stupid-fucking-bag-ban-in-california/773112.md?page=9)