The message ews.net
from "Sue" contains these words:

Yes I think that would certainly change things. I agree it's awful to
see the amount of plastic blowing around and stuck in roadside hedges
etc but sadly it's true that it takes a charge, however small, to
concentrate people's minds on not being careless with most resources.
I'm sure it would encourage me to remember to take bags to reuse more
often. I can't see the big supermarkets doing it here on their own
initiative though, as they'd each be wary of the others gaining some
advantage in pricing, so it probably would need legislating for.

The Co-op (and Sainsbury iirc) provides "bags for life" for a
single payment of 10 p each. It's strong plastic and lasts multiple
uses; when it wears out they give you a new one in exchange for the old
one which is recycled.

If you buy 6 bottles of wine the Co-op provide free , even stronger
foldable bags with divisions for 6 bottles. With the internal sections
cut out, those bags last indefinitely. For the diehards who use neither,
their flimsiest plastic carriers are biodegradeable.

We used to carry car-shopping home in used cardboard cartons but
supermarkets here are no longer allowed to keep them stacked where the
public can take one..fire hazard or some such rubbish.

Janet.