But the state's retail union said employers must protect their staff from frustrated customers when the ban is enacted come November 1.  

Do Something Tasmania director Ben Kearney helped Coles Bay become Australia's first plastic bag free town in 2003, and has since witnessed a ban on lightweight plastic bags in the Northern Territory, the ACT and South Australia. 

Mr Kearney said it was natural that a statewide bag ban would come with an adjustment period. 

``Obviously, you're going to get people who forget to bring their bags, and there is going to be a little bit of frustration,'' he said.

``But generally, I think people are well aware of the changes and very supportive. 

``There'll be an adjustment period but, as we've seen in the other states, it passes very quickly.'' 

Paul Griffin, of the Tasmania Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Union, said employers needed to be aware that staff were vulnerable to abuse from customers who weren't aware of the changes. 

``We haven't had any major concerns, but it is important that employers do what they can to ensure customer abuse and frustration is not taken out on staff,'' Mr Griffin said.  

``They need to deliver training so staff can deal with difficult situations, as well as having support mechanisms in place if a situation does turn abusive.'' 

Tasmanian Independent Retailers group operations manager Glenn Rainsford said they had been notifying retailers about the ban for the past 12 months, and they expected a generally positive response from the public.