Is Asda's 'less bags' grammatically acceptable?

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Is Asda's "Together we're using less bags" grammatically acceptable?


Asda logo


Asda poster

 

The Charge:

The word "less" should be replaced with "fewer". Less is used for a single item (e.g. less space); whereas, "fewer" is used when there is more than one item (e.g. fewer bags).
 

Defence / Defense Case:

This ruling is outdated.  Nearly everyone says "less" before a plural noun these days. "Less bags" is a clearer message than "fewer bags".  Asda are seeking to reduce plastic-bag pollution and judge that this wording is the most effective. 
 

Prosecution Case:

Is "less bags" a clearer message than "fewer bags"?  I would assert that they are equally understandable. The only difference between the two terms is one is a grammar error and the other isn't. Consider the following sentences:

I have no bread.
I hasn't any bread.

It's pretty clear that I do not have any bread, but the second example is grammatically wrong. It's the same with "fewer bags" and "less bags".  With "less bags", the message is crystal clear, but the grammar's broken.
 

Judge Grammar Monster's Decision:

This is an easy one to call. I judge that Asda's poster is grammatically incorrect.  Tesco correctly use "fewer" in the graphic below with no loss of message effectiveness. 
 
                                                         excerpt from tesco.com

 
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Related case:

Starbucks "less napkins"
   

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