Bottom of Bag is Further Away - and Cheaper

The Welsh Assembly's single-use bag charge is not now going to appear until October next year - and will be set at 5p rather than the 7p previously mooted. Will that make a big difference? A delay is unfortunate, of course, but I wonder how effective the charge will be anyway. Already the voluntary agreement involving many of the big retailers has achieved a near 50% reduction - will 5p make the difference to those who are immune to social pressures? I think not - for many the cost will simply get lost in the noise. That would, of course, be a pity - normalising behaviour is often the most effective change agent.