Posted By Helen Horton Have you seen the new style Tesco carrier bags that are easy to open? They have little tabs that you pull apart so you don't have to resort to wetting your fingers.

Posted By Lorraine Shuker The preferred method in the supermarkets I go to is to rub the bag vigorously between the flattened palms of the hands ~ it seems quite effective and has no need of finger licking

Posted By John Webster My goodness. You mean that the cashiers actually open the bags for the customers? I thought they were supposed to sit glowering at the customer wrestling with these infernal bags. I have never been able to get the damn things open, with or without wet fingers, and have frequently resorted to piling the shopping into the trolley and dumping it loose into the boot of the car. Sometimes I pinch the hand baskets, but try to remember to bring them back next time We did have a brief respite when Safeway's sold out to Morrison's - the Morrison bags were excellent - but they in turn have sold to Somerfield and their useless bags. The Co-op bags are no better, although they at least are now biodegradable.

Posted By Nikki I have solved problems of queues at checkouts, grumpy cashiers, and unruly plastic bags all in one go. Now shop at Sainsbury's where I scan my own goods and pack into my reusable shopping bags and pay at the self scan till, which has no queues. Bliss!

Posted By Ian Johnson Thank you all for your thoughts. I have been thinking along the lines of getting the pots with sponges in but am finding it difficult to find a supplier. If anyone happens to come across anywhere that supplies them I would be grateful if you could pass on the details. Thanks again, we are trialling the self service tills in some of our stores which may be the answer to our problem.

Posted By Bill Elliott Ian - are you considering a sponge for EACH employee then - because that is what you would need if you went that route. Far better I feel to ensure a little instruction on how to separate bags without licking fingers or resorting to a moist sponge (which in itself may be a harbour for goodness only knows what bacteria - being moist and in a loverly warm environment) Regards

Posted By Mark Talbot These sponge baths have been used for dozens of years at the Post Office - Bill, is there any evidence that they are a significant risk of bacterial infection? (always seemed like the same old lady in our post office, day in day out). Finger bobs are THE most irritating things ever devised, in my opinion.

Posted By Bill Elliott Mark - no more a significant risk than licking your fingers I would have thought. I do not have evidence but basic bacteriology and good personal hygiene principles would direct you to consider the risks at least. The problem (if there were one) would be worsened if individuals were sharing a sponge. I can't imagine how many different individuals would sit a supermarket checkout and whilst one would hope they practised good personal hygiene eg after using the WC, it cannot be guaranteed. It is a bit like the bowl of peanuts on the pub bar syndrome, which when tested contained six different bacteria all associated with human waste!