I have noticed a strange phenomenon since (some) plastic bags are no longer: whenever I buy a couple of things from the supermarket, and I pull out my green bag to put my purchases in, the checkout chicks/chaps leave me to pack my own stuff! They usually turn their back and have a scintillating conversation with the chick or chap next door, leaving me holding the groceries, and literally fumbling to get them into the bag.

Is it that packing is now my responsibility because there was no formal bag handover?  I think there needs to be a new checkout chap/chick training mantra enforced: if customers remember to the bring the bags, we should remember that we still need to pack them.

Competency achieved.