Stop Taking "Shop 'til You Drop" Literally

Popular London-based department store Harvey Nichols is encouraging us to shop... less? The retailer has teamed up with someone named Dr. Rosemary Leonard to warn consumers about the health risks of, well, shopping. Maybe it's time we all stopped jokingly saying "Shop 'til you drop," because that is apparently A REAL THING.

According to Leonard, shopping injuries happen all the time because people just don't understand the concept of moderation. Here's what she told British Vogue about the, um, phenomenon:

It might sound silly, but carrying numerous bags can put untold physical pressure on a shopper's body. Restriction of the blood flow is common, which means people can experience tingling of the fingers and in more extreme cases numbness and even fainting - I often refer to this condition as 'high-bag pressure'. Other symptoms an overburdened shopper could suffer from include pulled muscles, neck and wrist strain. As a practicing GP I see more cases of shopping related stress injuries at times when the economy is experiencing a boom.

This is just absurd. People lift things way heavier than shopping bags all day, everyday because it's their job. I think if a construction worker read about the heavy strain that ladies who lunch experience when they shop at Harvey Nichols for twelve too many hours, that construction worker would laugh his/her head off.

Leonard recommends spreading bags out along your arms to balance the weight (because duh) and Harvey Nichols has produced a "stop shop zone" wristband as a gentle reminder that customers shouldn't carry bags in their hands (hands are just for show, ladies). Excuse me as I pause to hand out Harvey Nichols wristbands to all the movers carrying heavy boxes around New York City with their hands.

All of this pearl-clutching that Harvey Nichols is doing surrounding shopping too much is ridiculous since they're a department store that wants nothing more than for you to walk in and spend all your money on life-changing designer goods. But the campaign might convince shoppers that Harvey Nichols cares if you faint in their stores because of your health and not because of legal issues.

If you're the kind of person who needs an extra pair of Marc Jacobs shoes stat and cannot bear to take a second trip to Harvey Nichols to prevent fainting, there's a solution for you. A spokesperson for the store told British Vogue, "For those who want to make multiple purchases and are concerned about carrying a heavy load, we'd advise using our website and letting our delivery drivers take the strain."

We don't care if The Help has circulation in their hands.