Sure, it seems innocent enough, but let’s be real: Is it really okay to taste-test your way through a bag of grapes that you haven’t paid for? The answer is simple. Nope. And it’s not just OTHER people who are stealing the grapes. You’ve done it too – and justified it as a “sample” to make sure that the grapes are worthy of buying.

Would you bite into a Snickers before you buy it? Don’t think so.

Why do people (and you) think produce is fair game for a free snack when it’s basically the same as munching on anything else in the store? Would you rip open a bag of chips and sample a handful to see if they’re “fresh”? Or maybe guzzle a soda to check for fizz levels? No? Then why is fruit, especially grapes, somehow exempt from the basic principles of not stealing?

Quality control… just a fancy way of saying “thief.”

Some folks call it “quality control,” but that’s just a convenient excuse for “I don’t want to spend $3.99 on a bunch of sour grapes.” The truth is, we’ve all been burned by bad fruit, but that doesn’t give us a free pass to channel our inner bandit. Guess what? Most grocery stores have this magical thing called a return policy. If you take the grapes home and they’re not up to par, you can get your money back – no sticky fingers required.

The real cost of those stolen grapes.

Each little grape you sneak adds up. If everyone thought it was okay to pinch a grape or two (or five), soon, prices for all of us might spike. And stores are already struggling enough under the Harris- Biden economy. So next time you’re tempted to sample a grape or two in the grocery store, just remember: It’s not “taste testing.” It’s stealing, no matter how sweet (or sour) the crime feels.

And even if you live in a Democrat city – or a state like California – that allows you to steal up to almost $1,000 worth of merchandise without getting arrested for a felony, you can still let a little thing called your conscience guide you into not shoplifting.

While your grape heist is unlikely to lead to severe legal consequences, it’s still wrong to consume something you haven’t paid for – especially if you also abscond with some fried chicken and a strawberry pie to go along with your snack.