Originally Posted by
Mrs HMS
Ok not so much grumpy as gobsmacked, incredulous, astounded and left shaking my head at the sheer stupidity of some of our legislation.
My 11 year old daughter likes to help when we go shopping, I use the self serve registers when only grabbing a few things. She likes to do that bit. Scan the shopping, bag it and pay for it. I gave her cash (it's more fun to plug the cash in than use EFTPOS apparently). While she does this I wait out of the register area.
One of the items in today's shopping was a pack of 12 plastic knives. You know the sort that bend/break at a BBQ on a well done snag? Anyway the staff member comes running over to her and says she can't buy them. I come over and ask why not, she will be paying for the shopping and is not stealing anything.
The answer.
Seriously....
Legislation in Victoria to prevent the sale of controlled weapons (knives) to children under the age of 18, includes all types of knives...bread and butter and even plastic knives! Apparently they can be fined up to $2300 for doing so and have a store policy of asking for ID for anyone who looks under 25 and wants to purchase a humble bag of plastic knives.
WTF?!?
Is it any wonder kids have trouble coping in the real world? So if you have a 17 year old off to the big smoke to go to uni, you will either have to purchase their cutlery for them or they'll have to live on Mac 'n' Cheese and tinned soup until they turn 18.
Lets not allow the stupidity to end there. Surely all plastic cutlery can be used as a weapon. You could take an eye out with a placcy fork...and don't get me started on sporks!
Still shaking my head.