‘Worried this looks like OnlyFans': Supermarket act dividing Australia

News.com.au

18-05-2025

There's an act dividing Australians that has nothing to do with housing, HECS debt or taxes; it is far more controversial.
Should you go barefoot at the supermarket?
Australia is split on the matter.
Earlier this year, news.com.au launched The Great Aussie Debate, a wide-ranging, 50 question survey that has uncovered what Australians really think about all the hot topics of 2025.
Over two weeks, more than 54,000 Australians took part in the survey, revealing their thoughts on everything from the cost of living and homeownership, to electric vehicles and going shoeless in supermarkets.
On that last matter, 53.7 per cent declared that going barefoot in the supermarket 'absolutely shouldn't happen', a pretty hard-line stance.
That still leaves over 46 per cent of people who don't feel so negatively about bare feet on vinyl tiles near groceries.
Interestingly, the results found the older you get, the more you hate the idea of paws on supermarket floors, with over 58 per cent of Aussies over 70 not wanting a bar of it.
With their work boundaries, ironic digital cameras, and low-rise jeans, young people were more accepting of trotters being out and about near fresh produce.
Nearly a third believed going shoeless in a supermarket is okay – provided it is near a beach.
There was also a slight gender split.
55.64 per cent of women thought going shoeless to a supermarket should not be allowed, whereas only 47.19 per cent of men were keen on a ban.
This is such a hot-button issue that I'm surprised Karl Stefanovic hasn't gotten fired up about it on Today.
So, I decided to head to a supermarket shoeless and see what all the fuss is about.
Dare I say, Mary Madigan was on the case! Look, I hate referring to myself in third person, but when you're conducting research, it is hard not to get a bit wanky about it.
I bravely headed to a nearby supermarket to try the freeing foot experience.
It was me, my iPhone, a Gen Z guy from the video team who probably didn't want to be there, and a dream.
Once we arrived at our location, I very quickly snapped into action and removed my $120 slides - yes, I know I overpaid for them - and started my supermarket experience.
Look, my first note of feedback is that shoes really do create a nice separation between you and a very cold floor.
Immediately afterwards, I realised that shoes also keep you separate from sticky things on the ground.
I did a hot lap around the supermarket with the video guy, who made several complaints such as, 'I'm worried this looks like we're filming OnlyFans' and 'you seem to be enjoying this, why?'
Was I enjoying it?
No. I was marvelling; I was taking it all in; I was trying to understand why over 40 per cent of Aussies want their bare flesh on supermarket flooring.
After a solid 10 minutes of rigorous research, where I was sidestepping spills and stopping and starting my way around the supermarket in a very netball-player way, I quickly came to the conclusion that there's too much at stake when you're barefoot.
Australia's biggest argument finally settled
If you're going to complain that I should have hung around longer barefoot to really lean into the experiment, well, grow up.
I wanted to go home and my feet felt feral.
Ultimately, and because I once did an online test that said I'm an empath, I understand the allure of no shoes.
It is casual, easy, and requires, you know, not having to put on shoes, but supermarkets are busy, hectic places, and bare feet have no business being near raw meat.
No one wants to see your toes while they're trying to decide what stir-fry to cook for dinner. If you're someone who likes going shoeless, the feeling of freedom is quickly undermined by the fact that you're wondering what you just stepped in.
I'm just going to have to call it and say being barefoot needs to be banned from the supermarket. I don't like doing it but I'm saving people from themselves.
As the Gen Z video guy told me, going barefoot while grocery shopping is 'lackin bro', which, after a quick Google, I confirmed is slang for lacklustre.
I am forced to agree. Going shoeless at the supermarket is a lacklustre experience and we need to stop arguing about it and just stop doing it.
Lets cover up the tootsies, get on with it, and go back to stressing about the housing crisis.