France in Focus

Yesterday, parts of our commune had a power cut for about an hour and a half. I wondered what would happen at the supermarket if they lost power. Obviously the checkouts wouldn't work but would the automatic doors work? If not the prospect of being locked in for an indefinite time doesn't bear thinking about.

I'm pretty sure all automatic shop doors have a manual over ride. They must have to as a fire precaution.

Edited to say that larger supermarkets must have back up generators or the wastage in chilled/frozen products would be enormous during a prolonged power outage.

The chiller cabinets will be much more vulnerable than the top entry freezers but even then I would be surprised if any normal major power outage - say 4-6 hours - would cause any of these items to go into alarm. Many do have audible alarms.

Well, most French supermarkets have rows of spirits, often including excellent whisky: Oban, Glenfiddich. So even for a somewhat longer enforced lockdown, I honestly don't see any problems for customers.

RobertArthur wrote: ↑Tue Feb 03, 2026 1:01 pm Well, most French supermarkets have rows of spirits, often including excellent whisky: Oban, Glenfiddich. So even for a somewhat longer enforced lockdown, I honestly don't see any problems for customers.

But not a bottle of Drambuie in sight

Years ago, for about a year, I lost my sense of taste.

I went from a whisky with a dash of soda drinker to a 50-50 whisky and drambuie drinker. Looking back, it wasn't such a bad year - I lost weight (eat less, couldn't be bothered) but everything else seemed fine and dandy.