We have all seen some questionable behavior at the gas station, but a recently surfaced video takes forecourt foolishness to a completely new, and highly illegal, level. In a clip that proves the absurdity of panic buying, a driver is caught on camera bypassing approved fuel cans to pump gas directly into plastic shopping bags.
The video, recorded from inside another vehicle at the filling station, shows a woman standing at the pump with the trunk of her small blue hatchback open. Instead of filling up her vehicle’s tank or an approved gas can, she is actively dispensing fuel from the nozzle straight into a flimsy orange plastic carrier bag.
After finishing her bizarre fill-up, she hefts the sloshing bag of highly flammable liquid into the back of her car, placing it right next to what appears to be a number of other already-filled bags. The person filming the chaotic scene provides a running commentary, calling the act “selfish” and a sign of “absolute desperation”.
“I mean, we’re not gonna run out of fuel, love,” the cameraman sighs, before branding the driver a “stupid, stupid woman” as she casually walks away from the pump to go pay.
🇬🇧 Meanwhile in the UK
— WeGotitBack 🏴🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@NotFarLeftAtAll) March 29, 2026
Some people are just so selfish .. 🙃 pic.twitter.com/aWvTPNneBd
Is It Legal to Put Fuel in a Plastic Bag?
In case it isn’t completely obvious: No, you absolutely cannot put gasoline or petrol into a plastic grocery bag. Aside from being an incredibly dangerous fire hazard, it is strictly against the law.
In the UK, where this video appears to have been filmed based on the terminology and accents, the Petroleum (Consolidation) Regulations 2014 dictate exactly how fuel must be transported and stored. While a private individual is legally allowed to store up to 30 liters of petrol at home without needing a special license or notifying the local Petroleum Enforcement Authority, that fuel must be kept in strictly regulated containers.
According to the legislation, you can only legally store and transport fuel in:
- Plastic containers specifically designed for fuel, storing a maximum of 10 liters each.
- Metal containers (like a traditional Jerry can) storing up to 20 liters each.
- Demountable fuel tanks holding up to 30 liters.
Crucially, the law mandates that any container used for petrol must be robust, prevent the escape of both liquid and vapor, and be clearly marked with the words “PETROL” and “HIGHLY FLAMMABLE” alongside hazard warning signs. A supermarket carrier bag obviously fails every single one of these legal safety requirements. Plus, official filling station rules explicitly state that only authorized plastic or metal containers can be filled on the forecourt.
Not only does this stunt risk a massive explosion or fire, but if that incorrectly stored fuel leaks out and destroys the car, insurance companies could easily deny the claim due to the driver’s extreme negligence. So, the next time there is a fuel shortage panic, skip the plastic bags and stick to approved, legal containers.
