"Nuisance Vacationers" Flock to Supermarkets Amid Heatwave
Some Even Climb Into Freezers to Take Free Ice
Controversy Grows as Unruly Behavior Surges in Chinese Stores
As heatwaves intensify across the globe, the number of consumers seeking relief from the heat in supermarkets has surged. Amid this trend, controversy has arisen in China after a group of so-called "nuisance vacationers" were caught stealing ice from a freezer at a large supermarket.
On July 21, videos showing people with their heads and upper bodies inside ice storage bins began circulating on local online platforms such as Douyin. In the footage, one woman is seen climbing into an ice storage bin placed in the supermarket, pushing her entire body inside to scoop up ice. In addition to this woman, several other people were also spotted throughout the store with their upper bodies fully inside the bins in an attempt to take the remaining ice.
This ice was originally provided free of charge by the supermarket for food packaging purposes, with sanitary scoops available for customers to use. However, some consumers have sparked controversy by disregarding hygiene, directly plunging their hands into the ice or even climbing into the storage bins themselves.
Local netizens have voiced strong criticism, commenting, "Truly shameless," "Even if it's packaging ice, this is far too unsanitary," "No matter how hot it is, this is unacceptable," "How could anyone think to climb inside the bin?" "This crosses the line," "Nuisance customers," "I'll never use supermarket ice again," and "As a fellow Chinese person, I'm deeply embarrassed."
Recently, temperatures have reached 39 degrees Celsius in Hubei Province, 38 degrees in Guangdong Province, and 37 degrees in Tianjin, with heatwaves near 40 degrees sweeping across China. As a result, the number of citizens flocking to large supermarkets in search of cool indoor spaces has increased dramatically, and abnormal behaviors have become more frequent. Some people have even been seen sitting on the floor playing card games or lying down to sleep on display beds.
Experts have noted, "As heatwaves become more severe, supermarkets that offer both shopping and relaxation have emerged as 'urban vacation spots.' They advise that retailers, including supermarkets, should establish clear usage guidelines and rules for free services they provide, and strengthen measures such as posting warning signs."
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