Cutting back shopping hours beneficial for all

There are some places where our own regulated 11:00 p.m. closing time may seem conservative or even backward, because in those places, the shopping never stops at all. Why, then, would I be arguing for the benefits of an earlier closing time, say, 9:00 p.m. instead of 11:00 p.m.?

In my view, the answer is simple. While later closing hours might make sense from a purely commercial aspect, I believe that in our society consumerism is not the only force driving us. And I say this because as it happens, consumerism tends to be a rather poor social regulator. What might seem on paper to be good for the bottom line for businesses, often isn’t good for society especially its basic and essential family unit.

Conversely, what isn’t good for the family often ends up being bad for the bottom line as well! And that’s a reassuring fact, much as it may seem inconvenient. It means that we haven’t surrendered our core values.

Late closing times have one major disadvantage — they cut into time spent with one’s family. This is true not just for shoppers, who after all do have a choice, but also for most employees. The cost of employment may indeed be the loss of those hours of family life when children are home from school and everyone should be spending quality time together.

Late closing times are also a barrier to employment for many young people. At a time when unemployment among youth is a serious problem, it’s definitely something to consider. The requirement to work late hours may be unacceptable to parents, particularly for young women. It poses a safety concern and takes away from time with family and friends. As we want young people to have the benefits of employment, doesn’t it make sense that the jobs they are qualified to do should be done without detriment to their safety, health or connection with family?

In fact, I believe that all of us would benefit from earlier closing times for businesses — and not just those who work there. Not so long ago, in many places businesses generally closed at 6:00 p.m. With more people working during the day, that proved inconvenient, and there is a clear advantage to being able to go to the store after regular working hours. But very late hours, like the present 11:00 p.m., have no particular advantage, serving only as a temptation away from the home and from much needed rest. It is human nature to be attracted to places where we feel ‘something is happening’, even if we know it’s not the best thing for us. Closing shops at 9:00 pm. offers all the advantages of a late opening — namely, allowing people to shop after work — without the disadvantages. It is a good compromise for all.

We must remember that we aren’t obliged to follow global trends toward later and later shopping. We can do things our own way, a way that resonates with our society and its real needs while still providing convenient and accessible facilities. This approach will give us a healthy balance and the best of both worlds.

Email: saudipulse@arabnews.com

Source: ARAB NEWS