Most people will freely admit that they’ve eaten some of the groceries they buy before actually going through the checkout. There are plenty of reasons why people nibble pre-purchase. Still, there’s a big difference between sampling a grape and going full bore at a rotisserie chicken. So, does that make eating before paying a grocery crime? The general rule of thumb is that eating before checking out is a no-no. What if you forget to pay for it or something goes wrong with your card at the register and you can’t pay for it? Then you’ve crossed the line into stealing. It also sets a bad precedent. If everyone went ahead and felt free to eat or drink while shopping and before buying, grocery stores would descend into chaos. Then there’s what it does to the poor checkers. Scanning empty packets of chips, trying to count banana peels, and trying to scan open yogurt containers is messy and complicated at best. Of course, there are exceptions to the rule. Sometimes grocery stores will put baskets of fruit out for kids to munch on while their parents do the grocery shopping. If that’s the case, your little darlings can munch away. Another exception is sampling grapes. Most customers agree that they’re not paying $4 a pound for grapes they can’t taste. A nibble to taste for flavor is the equivalent of kicking the tires before buying a car. Just because you kick the tires doesn’t mean you have to buy the car. Finally, the ultimate exception is in the case of medical emergencies. If a diabetic or someone with a similar medical condition needs a quick bite to avoid a blood sugar crash, so be it. Basically, your pancreas gets a pass. The bottom line: don’t treat the grocery store like a 5-star buffet.