In recent months, shunning an array of products from soft cheese to shiny executive cars has been suggested as the remedy to all manner of ill-received political and corporate decisions. BMW's unceremonious dumping of its Rover subsidiary also prompted calls, if more cautious, for a boycott. Of course, few of us have to negotiate the ethical minefield of purchasing a luxury saloon car. However, we can all try to make our voices heard in the High Street. In surveys, people will often claim a willingness to do something about an issue, but whether they actually do anything is another matter.
Boycotts tend to mobilise relatively small groups of concerned people.
There are only a certain number of issues over which entire populations will change their daily habits. Ruth Rosselson from Ethical Consumer magazine says boycotts can be effective if shoppers are armed with lists of all the products made by the target company. She refutes suggestions the public will happily forego the odd luxury product, but balk at abandoning their favourite brands. There are always alternatives in the shops. You can simply choose one product over another.