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AIBU?

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Original poster

To report an off licence?

120 replies

HotChocWine · 06/04/2024 19:37

Long story short, off licence sold vodka to a 17 year old, that my 15 year old drank and we ended up in a and e as he was unresponsive

We have been told where it was bought, I was debating letting Trading Standards know about it

OP posts:
Maverickess · 06/04/2024 21:32

WhatsTheUseOfWorrying · 06/04/2024 20:36

I don’t think that’s true. As I understand it, there may be a licence condition attached, but there may well not be. The Challenge 25 policy is otherwise voluntary.

Show quote history

A challenge policy is a mandatory condition - if it's not met then no licence. It doesn't necessarily have to be challenge 25, it can be 18, 21, 25, 30.... That bit is up to the licencee, but, challenge 25 (and less so 21 recently) is seen as best practice by licencing teams, and they can impose conditions on an active licence if something goes wrong -like insisting challenge 25 is used as the policy.

Shop has broken the law and so has the 17 year old, possibly the 15 year old too (woolly on that one though). Neither presumably forced your 15 year old to drink it though.

And this is why people are very careful about proxy sales - because people will always look for someone else to take the blame when it's their child who comes to harm.

WhatsTheUseOfWorrying · 06/04/2024 21:31

It would be an unfortunate outcome if the shop got a visit from a TSO, showed them the CCTV and it turned out to be OP’s child who’s blagging vodka using fake id.

Starlightstarbright3 · 06/04/2024 21:31

Why was your Ds drinking vodka bought by a 17 year old .

Considering the outcome I doubt you are getting a full picture .

pinkstripeycat · 06/04/2024 21:26

Who said they were siblings? OP didn’t

ouch321 · 06/04/2024 21:26

The fact that the other individual involved is 17 isn't that relevant. Your son still knowingly consumed the alcohol. It would have been no less potent just because the other kid passed their 18th birthday. Re the shop - unless you've seen the CCTV footage of the transaction you don't know if he did present a (fake) ID showing that he was, say, 19. So report it if it makes you feel better, but it's your son's poor behaviour you should be reflecting upon.

DoreenonTill8 · 06/04/2024 21:25

StarbucksQueen1 · 06/04/2024 21:22

No. I’d tell your child not to ask other people to buy him alcohol!

This.

GrocerDoctor · 06/04/2024 21:23

Kimmeridge · 06/04/2024 20:17

Was it your 17 year old? You never said......

I’m quite confused about this as well, was it your 17yo?

StarbucksQueen1 · 06/04/2024 21:22

No. I’d tell your child not to ask other people to buy him alcohol!

Gingerkittykat · 06/04/2024 21:20

If you report it they might do some test shops where they send someone underage in to try and buy booze

RufustheFactualReindeer · 06/04/2024 21:11

Yes i would absolutely report to trading standards

SharedAccountWithMySister · 06/04/2024 21:07

HotChocWine · 06/04/2024 20:12

To clarify
It was not my 17 year old giving it to his sibling

My 15 year old and I have had a robust conversation about alcohol and the appropriate punishment given

What is the appropriate punishment?

JoleneTookHerMan · 06/04/2024 21:06

Report them.

No matter whether 15 or l7, they are both still underage and should have been asked for ID.
Even if the child didn't know better, the adult (off licence worker) should have.

goldenretrievermum5 · 06/04/2024 20:54

Stillclueluess · 06/04/2024 20:34

On the bright side, he/she may never drink spirits again because of the horror of it! I'm like this with cider after an experience at 15.

Took DD until she was 19 to be able to drink vodka again after an unfortunate encounter aged 15! It did her no harm, she’s a far more responsible drinker than most of her friends

PizzaPastaWine · 06/04/2024 20:40

Report to trading standards OP. It may form part of a bigger picture for the premises - locally here the trading standards team do spot checks on reported premises with underage kids attempting to buy.

I'm sure this is a big wake up call to your DS and a lesson learned. He's not the first and unfortunately won't be the last.

WhatsTheUseOfWorrying · 06/04/2024 20:39

HotChocWine · 06/04/2024 20:29

The 17 year old was male. My DS was male but didn't go into the shop

Show quote history

OK. Sounds a bit slack of the shop, unless the 17yo had fake id of course.

Still wouldn’t report it though. I hate the idea of a business losing its licence because of teenagers trying it on.

TheSnowyOwl · 06/04/2024 20:38

There is a good chance that your child is trying to defect the blame or not wanting their friend to get into trouble.

I would focus on preempting predictable behaviours in a teenager. There is no point being reactive about a 15 year old getting drunk.

Asprogata · 06/04/2024 20:36

HotChocWine · 06/04/2024 20:29

The 17 year old was male. My DS was male but didn't go into the shop

Show quote history

So is the 17-year-old not your child?

How confident are you in the account you have been given?

WhatsTheUseOfWorrying · 06/04/2024 20:36

Greenfluffycardi · 06/04/2024 20:21

if you don’t look 25 the shop legally have to ask for ID. Not many 17 year olds look 25.

Show quote history

I don’t think that’s true. As I understand it, there may be a licence condition attached, but there may well not be. The Challenge 25 policy is otherwise voluntary.

ghostyslovesheets · 06/04/2024 20:35

Stillclueluess · 06/04/2024 20:34

On the bright side, he/she may never drink spirits again because of the horror of it! I'm like this with cider after an experience at 15.

The smell of Pernod still makes me dry heave #1980's!

Stillclueluess · 06/04/2024 20:34

On the bright side, he/she may never drink spirits again because of the horror of it! I'm like this with cider after an experience at 15.

goldenretrievermum5 · 06/04/2024 20:32

Whitewatergrafting · 06/04/2024 19:45

And what are you doing to educate and reinforce safe boundaries around alcohol with your 15 year old?

This

RawBloomers · 06/04/2024 20:30

I hope your DC recovers quickly and doesn’t do it again, OP. Must have been a horrible experience.

I would report, yes. They may or may not be able to take action on this particular sale, but it’s always good for them to be aware of which off licenses are ignoring the law so they can target enforcement on the worst.

Original poster
HotChocWine · 06/04/2024 20:29

WhatsTheUseOfWorrying · 06/04/2024 20:19

Were the two involved male or female? (It’s a lot harder for shops and pubs to spot u-18 young women).

The 17 year old was male. My DS was male but didn't go into the shop

OP posts:
Original poster
HotChocWine · 06/04/2024 20:28

BlancheSaysYes · 06/04/2024 20:17

I would report the shop for selling alcohol without ID-ing the customer. I wouldn't place the blame on the 17yo, nor the 15yo for getting so badly drunk. The 15yo will probably never drink vodka again!

No he won't

OP posts:
bubblesforbreakfast · 06/04/2024 20:25

This happened to me many moons ago 😱🤨 although I was 16 and bought and drank the vodka myself. My mum marched me down to the shop in the morning and complained to them. Loudly. I was SO embarrassed. I still remember it and could t face going in to buy alcohol or anything g else for years afterwards 🤣🤣🤣🤣