AIBU about these customers?

[PeacockFeathers]

Was spoken to like crap today at work by two very well spoken and dressed youngsters. DP was stood nearby in the shop making purchases coicidently and thinks I WBU.

Two young people wanting to buy wine. Both look under 25.

He has ID, she doesn't. I tell them I need to see both or I can't sell it to them, the law is clear on suspecting they are purchasing it for someone who is underage.

He offers uni ID with no date of birth on it, I tell him sorry but its not an accepted form of ID.

Both proceed to have a rant at me, telling me the law only applies to who is buying the alcohol. Tell me to use my common sense.

Call my supervisor over who backs me up and asks them to stop speaking to me like that.

Boy rants about how I am supposed to provide good customer service. Asks for my name and says they will complain.

DP thinks I ruined someones night. I think the boy looked anywhere from 16+ so was right, but feel shite at how patronising they were.

[Isityouorme]

Your dp is an immature dick.... Can't believe he is condoning underage drinking and putting your job at risk.

[dikkertjedap]

If more people behaved like you, I wouldn't have such a problem with youngsters drinking themselves senseless in the car park of the small shopping centre where I live. So, no, you are most definitely not unreasonable.

[SoWhatIfImWorkingClass]

Aaah I know just how you feel. When I worked for a supermarket I used to have to ask ALL of them for their ID.

Think about it, they could well be acting and working for the trading standards. They could be pulling all stops to try and catch someone out. It's not worth it in my opinion getting a potential fine when it can be avoided.

YANBU

[MrsRajeshKoothrappali]

If you'd been caught serving under-agers you'd face a massive fine and the possibility of a criminal record.

Of course you weren't being unreasonable.

[CoolaSchmoola]

You were right, DP was wrong.

Point out to him that YOU as an individual are held responsible and could lose your job, be prosecuted etc etc if you had sold alcohol to someone intending to pass it on to a person who is underage.

YOU could be fined - would he rather that than ruin someone's night on the off chance they might be 18??

He's probably thinking about how much being ID'd annoyed him when he was underage/of age but not carrying ID - whereas he ought to be thinking of how negatively just letting it go could impact on you.

[5Foot5]

You were in the right. If there was any doubt whatsoever that they too young to but it and they couldn't prove their age then you were doing your job correctly and they were being very rude. I wouldn't worry about a complaint because surely your managers would see it the same way and you did have your supervisor to back you up.

[PeacockFeathers]

The one with ID got all high on their horse about how they're 24. Guess what mate? Me too, and I carry ID all the time.

I really struggle. Some people I think look in their 20s are just 18 and others look really young and are old.I guess thats why we challenge 25.

I just don't get why they had to verbally maul me when I'm just doing my job . I came home expecting DP to be outraged at how they spoke to me.

[ChaoticintheNewYear]

Does your idiotic DP really want you to risk losing your job?

HIBVVVU

YANBU

[SoWhatIfImWorkingClass]

Let them put a complaint in. Shows how much they are spitting their dummies out.

[PeacockFeathers]

5foot5- My supervisor was going to make my line manager aware. She said I'd done everything right.

What suprises me is that I've refused to serve soms scary looking people because one didn't have ID. And they always accept I'm just doing my job. I wasn't expecting it from these people-sneering at me.

[Binkybix]

Is it really the rule that both people have to have ID if one is buying alcohol? TBH I would be put out if someone wouldn't serve me because some I was with didn't have ID. However, if this is the rule then it's just your job to enforce it.

[OddBoots]

YANBU, I'm glad your supervisor backed you up but it must be very frustrating. If you think there is going to be a complaint then make a note of what happened (just take a copy of that bit of your OP) just for a record and I am sure you'll be backed.

I do find it frustrating sometimes that I can only buy alcohol when I don't have my 13yo ds with me but I'd rather that than make underage drinking easier.

[manicbmc]

It states clearly that if people look under 25 they will be asked for ID. They didn't have any so it's tough. They can complain all they like but you weren't rude to them and you were following the law.

Your dp is an arse.

[LilQueenie]

wait am I missing something? They were 24 and yet had to prove they looked over 25? For something you need to be 18 to buy! You are in the right OP but the laws need a bit more tweaking I think.

[Binkybix]

I think the 'challenge 25' policy is a company policy rather than the law, put in place to make extra sure they don't sell to under 18s and therefore get a fine.

[PeacockFeathers]

Binky- Yes, because I am not allowed to sell alcohol to someone if I suspect they are buying it for someone who is underage.

[MrsReiver]

LilQueenie, why? I think the Challenge 25 law is perfectly reasonable.

[PeacockFeathers]

LilQueenie-one had ID to say they were 24. Other had nothing with age on.Could've been 16 from all I cpuld tell of their face.

[MrsReiver]

Binky Challenge 25 is the law in Scotland.

[maddening]

My friend and I were refused when we were 30 - I think as we were buying lots of different drinks (cocktails) it included lots that you wouldn't think youngsters would go for: champagne, archers etc but I only had my paper driving licence as I had passed a long time before the photo id ones. My friend had no id apart from her social worker id but that wouldn't do as no dob. We did say we thought it was daft and another lady said we were obviously old enough - we didn't give her any bother and went somewhere else.

[Binkybix]

I stand corrected!

Agree that in the OP's situation it was likely they would drink it together. How would that actually be proven though, if it was some sort of 'mystery shopper' thing, and they were trying to fine you for it?

[porridgewithalmondmilk]

I love being asked for ID. I'm 33 this year and the joy I feel thinking someone thinks I look under 25 far outlives any minor annoyance at not getting alcohol

[LilQueenie]

What I mean is you need to be 18 to buy alcohol but still need to look older than that? Why not make it so everyone needs an id card to buy alcohol. In some ways it could save a life if it had to swiped. Too many units bought then no more in a certain time frame. I was reading an article about alcoholism and it got me thinking.

[FryOneFatManic]

You WNBU, and perhaps you can get your DP to read this thread.

If he thinks you were unreasonable, would he be happy to pay the £1000 fine that you could personally be lumbered with?

Would he be happy if you got a criminal record for selling alcohol to someone underage?

I think that, like many people, he isn't aware that the person on the till can be held personally responsible if alcohol is sold to an underage person. I know my parents weren't until I pointed it out to them recently.

[ihearsounds]

Is this a new thing that both need to be id'd?
I sometimes have my dc's with me when buying alcohol, never refused regardless where i go. Nye dc's were going seperate parties in the same direction so travelled together. On the way ds stopped to buy alcohol and younger dc was in shop with him. He was id'd, she wasnt and he was served.