Notices have been installed on the eggs aisle to explain the reasoning behind the restriction, saying: “A note to all customers. To help support our local community and prevent anti-social behaviour, we have put an age restriction on the sale of eggs.
“To purchase eggs, you must be over 18 years of age. Thank you for your co-operation. Team Spar Twin Spires.”
A store manager said they had recently noticed anti-social behaviour around the use of eggs within the area.
“We made the decision to restrict the sale of eggs in our store from March, to help prevent this and support our local community.
“We work hard liaising with the local community groups and we support any effort that is made to resolve any anti-social behaviour within the area.”
Sinn Féin West Belfast MP Paul Maskey said: “I would commend the owners on this initiative as my fear that eggs thrown at passing traffic could cause an accident. I would also urge young people who are throwing eggs at homes, people or traffic to stop.”
West Belfast SDLP representative Paul Doherty said it is unfortunate that local shops have to go to these lengths.
“This shop knows both their customers and the community very well and I am sure it won’t cause anyone difficulty that is genuinely looking to purchase food,” he said.
“We have seen a rise in anti-social behaviour and eggs have been used to throw at windows of homes and buses. It is unfortunate that shops have to go to these lengths, but as a community, everyone is working together to resolve the issue of anti-social behaviour.”
