Low-income shoppers are being penalised
"Draconian" is the way that a Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) proposal to introduce a 15p levy on plastic carrier bags has been described.
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) quickly replied to the WAG's comments by describing the charge as "disproportionate and draconian", adding that the charge proposed by Welsh Environment Minister Jane Davidson, would "punish" Welsh consumers who have reportedly reduced their bag usage by almost 50% in recent years.
Tom Ironside, BRC Business Environment Director said that the WAG was "clearly determined to introduce a bag tax" and had already decided that it will be done. He added, "Customers will bear the brunt of the bag 'tax'. Not only will it impose costs on shoppers it will increase delays at checkouts. But a bag 'tax' will also impose pointless bureaucracy on the retailers who have to collect it. The bag 'tax' will hit low-income families hardest, as they are more likely to make frequent and smaller shopping trips."
Ironside's comments come after the consultation was launched in August and after the Carrier Bag Consortium described the proposed 15p charge as "the worst case of greenwash it had ever come across".
