I'm in the UK and I have, a few times, picked up a can of coke because I was thirsty and opened it while in the store, gone and grabbed more items and then scanned everything (including the coke I drank a bit of) through. It isn't illegal.
British law is all about intent, if I intend to deprive the store of that can of coke then it is indeed theft. However, if I drink a little bit before paying it doesn't. The store have to prove I intended to deprive them of it (which I wouldn't do)
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I'm in the UK and I have, a few times, picked up a can of coke because I was thirsty and opened it while in the store, gone and grabbed more items and then scanned everything (including the coke I drank a bit of) through. It isn't illegal.
I wouldn't state that as fact - see other threads about the Theft Act.
British law is all about intent, if I intend to deprive the store of that can of coke then it is indeed theft. However, if I drink a little bit before paying it doesn't. The store have to prove I intended to deprive them of it (which I wouldn't do)
As I posted elsewhere:
"Well, to be pedantic:
S.2(2) Theft Act 1968 states that a person may be dishonest notwithstanding a willingness to pay.
You could also fall foul of "Doing an act inconsistent with the rights of the owner"
"
So the store doesn't absolutely have to prove intent.