Gasoline in Plastic Bags Is Never a Good Idea; Here’s Why

Mankind has come a long way in the realm of technology. We have the equivalent of personal computers in our hands at all times. Digital currency. Anti-aging drugs! Yet, as far as we have come, there is one undeniable truth; Gasoline in Plastic Bags Is Never a Good Idea.

Gasoline Shortages Trigger Panic Buyers…

Fuel shortages stem from a cyberattack launched earlier this week. The Colonial Pipeline supplies gasoline to most of the eastern Us states. As a result of this attack, which shut down the pipeline temporarily, panic buyers were out in droves looking for gas.

Whether BDSM outfits were worn as fuel seekers flooded gas stations, this writer can only speculate. But with the idea that shutdowns lead to an increase in demand (coupled with dwindling supply), Americans took to the street. With portable gas containers, water tanks, and even plastic bags to ensure they wouldn’t be without this precious fossil fuel.

When one hears of a possible fuel shortage, it’s not necessarily a bad idea to fill up your gas tank. It is a terrible idea, however, to use a plastic bag for gasoline. Especially surplus gasoline.

Why Can’t Plastic Bags Be Used To Store Gas?

The chemical makeup of gasoline is similar to the chemicals found in a lot of different plastics. This is why you should only use proper gasoline containers to store this fuel; not 5-gallon buckets, water tanks, or garbage bags.

In case you didn’t know – gasoline is highly flammable. Unstable, to a point one might say. Using an approved container is the safest way to ensure outside environmental factors, like heat, for instance, won’t set off a firework show of July 4th proportions.

But in a full-panic mode, this is exactly what happened to a few people who thought putting gasoline in plastic bags was a good idea.

Panic Buying is Still The Bigger Issue

We’ve seen this countless times before, the most recent being the Great Toliet Paper Shortage of 2020. Panic Buying is still the root issue at hand when it comes to people making poor choices. Choices that unfortunately, can put their health and safety at risk.

Being prepared in case of emergency is one thing; running around buying everything that could possibly become a dire necessity, in masse, based on fear is another. This isn’t preparedness, it’s chaos.

It seems the supply/demand woes of living in times of a pandemic have taught us nothing. Does no one remember empty shelves at the grocery store? Photos of the elderly and disabled pushing empty carts down bare aisles?

It’s not uncommon that shortages are a result of self-fulfilling prophecies. If you tell a lot of people “Hey, there could be a short delay of getting more of this item back in stock” then those people will create a rise in demand, and instigate said shortage.

But no – they’re too preoccupied with pumping as much gas as they can into Hefty bags, not caring how much is spilled across the parking lot, to think of such things. Just to deal with the cumbersome process of moving said flammable liquid to another container, later. And, eventually, succumbing to the disappointment and realization that hoarding gasoline only creates more problems. Of course, this happens as they attempt to sell said fuel on Facebook Marketplace as a means to recoup their panic buying expenses.

Stop Panic Buying & Think Rationally

It’s easy to become overwhelmed in an emergency, and only want to do what’s best for your family, and yourself. But you have to remain calm and rational.

Stick to the main principles of commerce when faced with a potential resource crisis.

• Only buy what you need-not how much you can shove into the back of your SUV.
• Just because you see someone buying in bulk, don’t assume they know something you don’t. Many people buy supplies for large groups such as orphanages, nursing homes, churches, etc. Buy only what you need!
• If you need to resort to dangerous methods, such as gasoline in plastic garbage bags, just don’t do it. The risks do not outweigh the benefits in your quest to survive Thunderdome and collect all the gas. ONLY BUY WHAT YOU NEED!
• Supply vs demand is often balanced over a course of time. This can happen over both longer, and shorter periods. Listen to the experts and unless they tell you to go into panic mode and buy an entire store’s worth of toilet paper; just don’t do it. Do we need to bludgeon this decaying horse anymore?