<p>I am a responsible consumer.&nbsp; When I get to the checkout, I flourish my cloth shopping bags.</p> <p>And the first time out in a new shop you can expect to be met with bemusement.&nbsp; Many will try to ignore the existence of the bags and start loading your purchases into the regular plastic.&nbsp; So you ask them not to do that and draw their attention to the cloth bags.&nbsp; One 7-Eleven employee immediately saw the light and pulled out another plastic bag into which he stuffed my cloth bags.&nbsp; At no extra charge, I hasten to add.</p>