'We can survive two days': Star readers split on Boxing Day shop closures
Every Christmas, a familiar question resurfaces: should shops and supermarkets close on Boxing Day?
We asked our readers - and the response was overwhelming.
Hundreds weighed in, many drawing on years of experience in retail, hospitality and other frontline roles.
While the majority backed closure, others argued for choice and recognition that not everyone celebrates Christmas.
Many readers with retail experience said Boxing Day trading comes at a personal cost, cutting short family time after an already exhausting run-up to Christmas.
Russ Clarke said: “From someone who has always worked in retail, yes. Should be closed Xmas day and Boxing Day and New Year’s Day too. It is great to spend time with family and friends.”
That sentiment was echoed by Lucy Kent, who described how working Boxing Day for more than seven years affected her Christmas: “Yes, if you can’t live without going to the shops for two days, then you deserve to go without.
“I worked in retail for seven-and-a-half years and every year it was a late Christmas Eve finish and an early Boxing Day start. We didn't have much time to enjoy Christmas and spending the time with loved ones.”
Others said the public simply needs to plan better.
Lesley Hall wrote: “Yes. Give the staff chance to spend time with all their family. We should be able to plan to have two days of food without having to go to the shop”
And Steven Shaw added: “Yes absolutely, the sun doesn’t fall out of the sky if the shops are closed for two days.”
Several retail workers pointed the finger not just at companies, but at consumer behaviour.
Maddy Wood said: “What makes me mad is when customers ask if you are open on Boxing Day and you say yes and they go ‘oh no that's so bad’ - but when you open the doors on Boxing Day they are the first in the queue...beggars belief”
Similarly, Claire Wright commented: “Yes I think people that go shop Boxing Day are selfish if they didn’t go they would close. But the people that go will nip round shops on way to family what about retail workers family who be working right up to closing Xmas Eve.”
Others pushed back, saying it’s unfair to frame Boxing Day closures purely around Christmas when many people do not celebrate it - and some actively prefer to work.
Paul Spencer said: “Not all people celebrate Christmas, so why should all shops be closed?”
Susan Winter, who worked Christmases in care, added: “Not everyone celebrates Christmas, some people prefer to work . For over 20 years I worked over Christmas as a care worker but it was busy but fun.
“Now retired Christmas day no different to any other day, many people have to work such as nurses doctors firemen police etc.”
And Pip Saucer argued for empathy and choice: “Of course not some lonely people like to work over Xmas and some like to meet up and shop, leave it to choice of the individual we need to be understanding to all.”
Some readers questioned why retail is singled out when other sectors never shut.
Janet Brookes asked: “Why does everyone fixate on shops. What about hospitality, emergency services, care workers, doctors and nurses, security workers and anyone else I have missed?”
Hospitality workers also joined the discussion.
Sharon Sparks said: “I’ve work in hospitality for nearly 40 years and never had them off - it’s part and parcel of the job. So are they going to close pubs and restaurants?”
Meanwhile, David Lowrie highlighted the issue of consent: “I don’t mind either way, provided no staff are forced to work if they don’t want to. Traditionally non Christian staff worked these shifts but that doesn’t work for most companies”
A recurring middle-ground view was that shops could open, but only if staff genuinely volunteered and were properly compensated.
Victoria Naylor said: “Staff should be given a choice and if not enough staff to open then stay closed.”
And Susan Helliwell added: “And online shopping should be stopped. Pubs and restaurants should be the only things open and they should be staffed by the people who want to work over the Christmas period and they should be paid double time and a day off in lieu.”
While opinions varied, the dominant message was clear: people value time over trading, and many feel modern expectations have gone too far.
As Alison Pickering Quigley put it: "Shops used to shut 3-4 days - we are still all here and so are shops”