Shop Act 1950

Shop Act 1950

an Act applying to England and Wales which contains provisions relating to SHOP opening times and shop workers' hours. The Act requires every shop to be closed on Sundays except for the sale of a restricted list of products but this has now been amended by the Sunday Trading Act. Daily opening hours are also governed in so far as all shops (with a limited number of exceptions such as shops having an off-licence to sell liquor) must be closed by 8 p.m. except for one ‘late day’ per week which is until 9 p.m. There are no statutory provisions covering the time shops may open in the morning.

Local courts have the power to fine a trader for infringements of the Act.

In 1994 the Sunday Trading Act made it legal for retailers to open their stores on Sundays. Small shops are permitted to open as normal but larger shops (for example, supermarkets) are restricted to a maximum of six hours.

Shop Act 1950

a UK Act (but not applicable to Scotland) that contained provisions relating to SHOP opening times and shop workers’ hours. The Act allowed only shops selling a restricted list of products (newsagents, off-licences) to be open on Sundays. In 1994, however, the Sunday Trading Act was passed, permitting an unrestricted range of products to be sold by, for example, supermarkets and DIY stores. Local courts have the power to fine a trader up to a maximum of £1,000 per offence for infringements of the Act.