I was stood waiting to be served in a local corner shop , the young lady in front of me pulled out an envelope full of vouchers, I had a little nosey as you do, they were Healthy Start vouchers.
Healthy Start vouchers are given to those on benefits , if pregnant or have children under the age of 4. Also for to those who are under the age of 18 and pregnant.
They are a great incentive for mums to be to eat healthy during pregnancy and gives those mums a helping hand to get the fruit and vegetables into the little ones. All in all a great idea. It also enables the purchase of baby formula milk and fresh milk.
The lady in question asked for cigarettes, the man behind the counter took 2 vouchers from her and scanned them, popped them into the till.The lady walked out.
I was shocked. Why was this shop taking vouchers meant for milk, fruit and vegetables and exchanging them for payment for cigarettes?
I have to say I would be ashamed if I bought cigarettes with vouchers meant for my children’s benefit. This mum may well have already done her weekly shop and had a fruit bowl brimming to the top and milk in the fridge, but to buy cigarettes with the remaining vouchers? Could they not go to better use? Even buy more fruit as a gift to a friend with children?
I have nothing against helping those on a low income, I feel using the vouchers for their correct means is a fantastic idea. To abuse them this way, in my opinion is wrong.
Related articles
- New mothers swap fruit vouchers for booze and cigarettes (telegraph.co.uk)
What are your views ?
About The Real Supermum
Hi there, yes I have to agree with you. I work for a large Supermarket and we can only exchange the vouchers for fruit, vegetable and milk. I should imagine small independent shops can do as they please and don’t give two hoots about what the vouchers are spent on.
[WORDPRESS HASHCASH] The poster sent us ’0 which is not a hashcash value.
I’m pretty shocked by this. You’d think that with the gov’t being so nose in people’s biz these days that this kind of thing would be illegal! The shop should be fined (and the money go to support a local food pantry), and that shopper put on probation – their use of vouchers scrutinied! And the second-hand smoke her kids must be getting is an endangerment to health as well!
[WORDPRESS HASHCASH] The poster sent us ’0 which is not a hashcash value.
God in the shops around here you can’t even buy bread with them……believe me i have tried!Ok i smoke but NEVER would i try that+NEVER would i expect to get them with healthy start vouchers!Just show’s some people will put they’re own need’s before they’re kids…..and some shop keepers just do not care where money come’s from!Shocking!
[WORDPRESS HASHCASH] The poster sent us ’0 which is not a hashcash value.
When i go into shops and use my vouchers they’ve started counting up what i’ve bought thats eligible as loads of women have been doing that in my area. I would be ashamed to use those vouchers for anything other than what they were given to me for, if i have fruit already i wait until a bit further into the month and buy more milk or fruit then, or buy more milk and put it in the freezer to last longer.
[WORDPRESS HASHCASH] The poster sent us ’0 which is not a hashcash value.
It really frustrates me too that bcos I work 16 hours I’m not entitled to the free vitamins that you can also get with the vouchers, can’t get them even if you ask to pay for them.
In my shop the till tells us if we can’t except a certain payment type, ie, healthy start vouchers.
[WORDPRESS HASHCASH] The poster sent us ’0 which is not a hashcash value.
a lot of shops do it which is wrong. By where i live if u want to use it for anything else like cigs, n junk ect they take a pound off it so ur only gettina voucher worth 1 pound odd. I think its so wrong as there for u to be able eat healthy in preg and also help ur lo eat healthy. If you ring the healthy start voucher hotline you can report them for it
[WORDPRESS HASHCASH] The poster sent us ’0 which is not a hashcash value.
i am sorry but the checkout operator is breaking the law you are not allowed to take healthy start voucher’s for anything other than milk fruit and veg and infant formula you should report the shop hunni and the fact that it was for fags makes me sick to my stomach i could have understood if it was for bread or soup or something like that but for fags totally out of order i use healthy start vouchers and put them into my local shop were the amount is writen down in a book with my name and other’s with voucher’s so that even when the voucher’s have expired date wise we can still get our milk but he doesn’t let us use them for anything other than milk or veg and fruit xxxxxx
[WORDPRESS HASHCASH] The poster sent us ’0 which is not a hashcash value.
unfortnualty i have seen this far too often- tho if u report the shop in question they will have their rights to take the vouchers taken away and a fine
[WORDPRESS HASHCASH] The poster sent us ’0 which is not a hashcash value.
Personally I think that is disgusting, people completely abuse their privelages nowadays.
And under no circumstances is it okay to spend the vouchers on anything but what they’re intended for.
Makes me really angry that people do that when they are the ones luckly enough to have them in the first place, yes they’re on benefits but it doesn’t mean that they can spend the money intended to help their children be healthy on cigarettes.
[WORDPRESS HASHCASH] The poster sent us ’0 which is not a hashcash value.
That’s disgusting the mother should not have them if she only uses them for cigarettes !!!
[WORDPRESS HASHCASH] The poster sent us ’0 which is not a hashcash value.
What the shopkeeper and the customer actually committed were crimes, they could be prosecuted for that. It even says on the vouchers that any incorrect usage is punishable by prosecution. i get healthy start vouchers and it is the only way i can afford formula for my 2 kids being a single parent so they are not a joke in themselves, it is the way this woman abused it thats the joke.
[WORDPRESS HASHCASH] The poster sent us ’0 which is not a hashcash value.
It’s a shame people take advantage of one of the great things this country does for us, its as bad as benefit fraud if not worse as your basically taking from your child
[WORDPRESS HASHCASH] The poster sent us ’0 which is not a hashcash value.
I’m lost for words… Obviously the shopkeeper gets the cash value back for these vouchers so he don’t give a hoot on what he sells for them… Shame on the mother… Just another example of someone abusing what is already a shambles of a benefit system.
[WORDPRESS HASHCASH] The poster sent us ’0 which is not a hashcash value.
i would report the shop. the shop and the person comitted an offence there. i love my healthy start vouchers, it has encouraged me to buy lots of fresh fruit and veg and make it a big part of my diet, a habit that i have continued.
[WORDPRESS HASHCASH] The poster sent us ’0 which is not a hashcash value.
just testing to c if this is how u leave a comment as i have never left one b4 and dont want to write my comment and then find it doesnt get posted! lol
i get healthy start vouchers and think there GREAT! My vouchers used to pay for formula but now pay for milk- i do not buy fruit&veg with mine as i find it cheaper to purchase these items from my local fruit&veg stall, therefore i often use leftover vouchers to buy nappies and wipes from a LARGE chainstore. using vouchers frees up other money, money that MAY then be spent on ciggarettes :-S What this woman did was wrong but without realising many do the same, just in a less outright manor
that’s disgusting!
[WORDPRESS HASHCASH] The poster sent us ’0 which is not a hashcash value.
I dont smoke, but id be embarassed buying cigs with vouchers meant for my babys milk!
I have a baby and a toddler and never have ‘spare’ vouchers as it all goes on formula! And not even a months worth!
Shame on her x
[WORDPRESS HASHCASH] The poster sent us ’0 which is not a hashcash value.
It is shocking that a retailer will take the vouchers in payment for cigarettes. I do too think they are a great idea and fruit and
veg can cost so much, they’re often the highest priced products on our shopping list. I personally think that the vouchers should only go towards milk and fresh produce and nothing else. That way they’re less likely to be abused.
[WORDPRESS HASHCASH] The poster sent us ’0 which is not a hashcash value.
oh my word! some people. how does that lady and the shop keeper live with themselves…..stealing is what it is…! of precious healthy beneficial foods for theif family to pay for cancer sticks. well if you can afford to smoke, you shouldnt have vouvchers….sorry but thats how i feel!
[WORDPRESS HASHCASH] The poster sent us ’0 which is not a hashcash value.
i have never known a small shop to do that before! Maybe it was a way of just getting some more money, which is wrong anyway. I get the vouchers and i use them on milk and mainly fruit, i would never dream of spending them on anything other than them items x x x
[WORDPRESS HASHCASH] The poster sent us ’0 which is not a hashcash value.
my shop accepts the vouchers for anything but i would only ever use them for lo hen i go asda i use them all but i buy lo fruit veg mile etc x
[WORDPRESS HASHCASH] The poster sent us ’0 which is not a hashcash value.
i think thats disgusting. i get healthy start vouchers and have only ever used them for what their meant for. im also a smoker but would never dream of using them to buy fags.
How on earth she managed it id love to know too!
when i buy formula with something else like clothers they make me put it all through separate so i can only use the vouchers for the milk. not that i mind tbh. 6 months down the line, the government will get rid of the vouchers because of people like that xxxx
[WORDPRESS HASHCASH] The poster sent us ’0 which is not a hashcash value.
that has made me feel sick! the fact that people will use the vouchers for stuff like that, yes i do smoke myself but i would nerev use vouchers for cigs! id understand bread or something if your short and the kids want a sandwich or summit but not cigs the woman should be ashamed!!!
[WORDPRESS HASHCASH] The poster sent us ’0 which is not a hashcash value.
hi, im a non smoker myself, an also 3 months into my pregnancy, ive jus received my vouchers but dont know where to cash them in for my fresh fruit an milk etc, can anyone please tell me if tesco’s accepts them. thank you, im soo looking 4ward to having my baby,
all major supermarkets accept them hun xx
Hola! I’ve been reading your weblog for a long time now and finally got the bravery to go ahead and give you a shout out from Lubbock Tx! Just wanted to mention keep up the excellent work!
that it totally is digusting and wrong in so many ways. i get healthy start vouchers and yes i do smoke but never would i dream of using my vouchers for fags. every shop near me including fruit and veg stall accepts them so thats what they are used for. occasionaly y local off-licence has allowed for me to purchase nappies and wipes and the odd food item but only when ive been so short on money. but never would i use them for cigarettes only what they are ment for and ocassionally stuff my 3 yr old son needs xx
We don’t get healthy start vouchers here but if we did I would spend them on my kids, Like they are suppose to be spent! x
omg that is so bad :S those vouchers were so handy and helpful for me when it came to fruit, veg and milk but its a shame theres animals out there that has to ruin it xx
I never got anything like this when I was pregnant with my daughter & I would have very much have appreaciated the extra help for these food essentials! I find it very insulting to other parents struggling by on low incomes/benefits that have to scrape their pennies together just to get a loaf of bread, whilst this women is using these vouchers for her own selfish needs when there are children living in poverty! She should be ashamed of herself! xx
disgusting ! i havent seen anyone doing this but i can rember my friend once trying to buy frozen veg an they wouldnt serve her say she couldnt use the vouchers! she thought it was wrong as the would last longer and she would get more for her money etc x
she can now get frozen veg on them, i have been getting frozen veg with mine since april 2011
A few shops by me have been known to accept the vouchers in exchange for fags, and even alcohol! i get these vouchers, and a few weeks ago whilst in asda, I brought lots of fruit and veg along with my other shopping, upon paying i handed her a couple of vouchers and she went thru the reciept with a pen and added up the cost of all the fruit and veg to match it with the amount of vouchers, she apolagised for this and for holding me up instead of just scanning them like they usually do, explained that a lady had been in that day, and attempted to pay for a bottle of vodka and a bottle of coke with her healthy start vouchers! i couldn’t believe it! actually laughed!! xx
you cna buy frozen fruit an veg and tinned fruit and veg on them now as well as fresh fruit, veg and milk xxx
Omg that’s appalling! I get vouchers and I’m there counting up how much the allowed items come to so that they’re used right, and there’s people buying cigarettes with them! Shocking that she even did it x
Thats terrible! She gets those vouchers as she is pregnant/has a child.children! And she uses them on herself! I`d feel embarassed to spend them on something like that!x
I thnik its realy selfish if a parent uses’s them for cigs! i smoke and get healthy start vouchers but wouldnt dream of using them for something like that! people who do should be ashamed because if you have to go to them lengths to get cigs for yourself then you should’nt smoke….
How could someone do that it is so wrong i always get milk and veg with mine i drink lots of milk and so do my children as it is good for u. Cigarettes are really bad for you and also the people around u I did used to smoke but never would i use my milk vouchers to get them if i could not afford them i didnt have them simples
thats disgusting…. i thought they could only be redeemed if ouve scanned fruit n veg into the till? well thats how it should be!
in my opinion it is wrong the vouchers if not being used for healthy food should if there are vouchers left over after said health food has been bought should still only be used for babyrelated things! using them for cigarettes is appalling but the fact that she shop not only took them but were able to scan them says something about the actual vouchers themselves, unless the shop did an override of somekind. if things like this are to be stopped then the vouchers need to be amended where they cant be scanned for non intended produce. xxx
i get healthy start vouchers, i get 4 a month for my 2 year old and as a family that eat a lot of fruit and veg they dont last long, maybe one or two shopping trips.
we have had one shop assistant telling me i couldnt use 2 vouchers together making me look a total fool and other shop assistants who rigoursly check my total cost of fruit, veg, milk against the voucher total again making me look like a fool who maybe trying to pay for my other shopping too.
i certainly dont agree with using them for cigarettes, my partner had to get milk yesterday and came back with so many bananas just so he could use the whole voucher, didnt cross his mind to get a variety of fruit
I definitely agree with you real supermum. I can’t imagine why people would use health vouchers for things that are detrimental to health in contrast to buying healthy food items for kids or moms. I guess some people really have a weird sense of humor.
Oh my days, I am a smoker but not a cat in hells chance would i even think about using vouchers for cigs, I dont know anyone who would do this tbh, and no shops round here would ever do that. x
I cant believe that a mother would do that rather than getting something for her child/ren & for it to be ciggarettes!!! The thing that is worrying is if mothers do that then wont they stop giving the vouchers out, which will result in mothers who use the vouchers correctl loosing out?
xXxXx
This really really annoys me some people take the micky! grrrr >:(
I receive healthy start vouchers and all mine go on full fat milk, baby milk & fruit & vegtables. No mum is perfect we all make mistakes. x
i dont agree with that all mums make mistakes bit, yeah we all do make mistakes but the milk tokens i get are for my boys i would never deliberatly spend them on my addictions if i had one thats not a mistake its just selfish xxx
I’m actually sat with my jaw open here! That’s awful, whether or not she had a bowl brimming with fruit and veg the vouchers are not for bloody fags!
totally shocked !!!! nothing else to say
its disgusting they should deffo only accept them for what there meant for see again people abusing the system!!!! x
mine where just throw in in when we would do our weekly shop!!! xxxxx
wow.. so wrong.. ive never got them before so dont know how it works x
Omg! I would of had to say something. There ment for fruit and veg/milk not fags! I smoke but I would never dream of trying to use them for fags!! Then again I’m on mum of 2 with are 3 and 9months and I don’t work yet iv never seen a voucher in the 3years! Gunna have to look into it I think, would really help out with baby milk ect.. Xx
so wrong that someone can use these vouchers in such a shocking way!!!
I have never been able to use them for anything other than fruit or milk. Embarrassingly have to hold up the queue while the cashier checks out my receipt to make sure I’m not scamming it. Which I understand, but it is quite awkward and embarrassing. I feel a bit like an untrustworthy chav, when in reality I would never dream of using them for anything other than fruit, veg and milk. It’s not fun whipping out those vouchers, I would never even dare try and use them for anything else even if I wanted to, it’s like the Spanish inquisition trying to use them for what they’re designed for half the time