Page 2 | To ask if the police would do anything about

YellowOrangePink · 2025-05-09T17:07:59+00:00

The shops that keep selling my 16 year old child alcohol? Is it worth reporting?

CaptainFuture · 09/05/2025 20:16

WisePearlPoet · 09/05/2025 20:02

I had the same issue some years ago now. An off licence selling alcohol to underage kids, one of them being my son.
The first thing I did was to to into the shop and make them aware that I was aware.
I then spoke to the Police who by this time had received lots of complaints by concerned residents. It ended up with a licencing hearing and the shop being closed. It was a scurge on the neighbourhood and resulted in me being assaulted by my son due to intoxication. I would do the same thing again if I had to.

Was your son also using fake ID? So of course 'not his fault' 😪....

CaptainFuture · 09/05/2025 20:15

So your working full time teenager... so not a school child.
Is proudly and illegally buying alcohol for children, using fake identification.
But.... poor lamb.... ITS SOMEONE.ELSES FAULT!! Get them! But not my poor innocent baby?....🤨

WisePearlPoet · 09/05/2025 20:02

I had the same issue some years ago now. An off licence selling alcohol to underage kids, one of them being my son.
The first thing I did was to to into the shop and make them aware that I was aware.
I then spoke to the Police who by this time had received lots of complaints by concerned residents. It ended up with a licencing hearing and the shop being closed. It was a scurge on the neighbourhood and resulted in me being assaulted by my son due to intoxication. I would do the same thing again if I had to.

Original poster

YellowOrangePink · 09/05/2025 19:59

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They're surprisingly civilised young lads.

OP posts:

PerfectPennyKilledMyHusband · 09/05/2025 19:56

Intheshower · 09/05/2025 18:58

Your child is not only buying for personal consumption
but also selling

OP, your child sounds in dire straits

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This is a bit over the top.

When I was that age, one of our friends looked the oldest by far so she used to go to the shop and purchase alcohol for all of us on a Friday night.

She wasn't in dire straits. We all turned out OK, she's a doctor now.

I'm not condoning it and hope my child doesn't start drinking that young, but you're being a bit dramatic in your response.

Original poster

YellowOrangePink · 09/05/2025 19:55

Peanutlicious · 09/05/2025 19:33

I also went into the shops with my son (under the guise of buying milk) and told the person serving, with my son beside me that he was 14. They looked horrified and son was mortified. I told son I would do that in every single shop I found he was trying to buy alcohol in if he ever behaved like that again. So far, it has worked.

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Shops have often got several staff on various rotas... I might try this but I don't think my son would respond well and I also don't want to compromise an otherwise quite open trusting relationship, when he tells me things I do pretty much believe it is true

OP posts:

Original poster

YellowOrangePink · 09/05/2025 19:53

TheGrimSqueakersFlea · 09/05/2025 19:48

@Intheshower The op's child is going to the shop for their own alcohol. Their friends are then giving them money and asking them to get theirs while they're in. It's like you going to the shop for crisps and your friend giving you the money to get them some.
I'm not sure why you think think that's selling

Yes exactly this, it sounds far more sinister than it is - and I know it's not ideal, which is why I'm trying to think of the best way to deal with it. He sees it as repaying favours when older brothers have done (some of whom did profit I believe!)

OP posts:

Original poster

YellowOrangePink · 09/05/2025 19:49

ResumedDeliveryBets · 09/05/2025 19:44

You’re welcome. Also I never post on a Friday night. Mumsnet becomes a very strange place - teenagers have been trying to buy booze, share with friends, get one over on their parents since nearly the beginning of time - almost all of them turn out just fine. But you can’t tell Mumsnet that on a Friday night.

I have a theory that a lot of women who have had very hard weeks lifing start drinking early, hit the forums and bang YOU ARE VERY UNREASONABLE and probably raising the devil’s spawn!

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That didn't even occur to me!

OP posts:

TheGrimSqueakersFlea · 09/05/2025 19:48

@Intheshower The op's child is going to the shop for their own alcohol. Their friends are then giving them money and asking them to get theirs while they're in. It's like you going to the shop for crisps and your friend giving you the money to get them some.
I'm not sure why you think think that's selling

ResumedDeliveryBets · 09/05/2025 19:44

YellowOrangePink · 09/05/2025 19:22

Thank you

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You’re welcome. Also I never post on a Friday night. Mumsnet becomes a very strange place - teenagers have been trying to buy booze, share with friends, get one over on their parents since nearly the beginning of time - almost all of them turn out just fine. But you can’t tell Mumsnet that on a Friday night.

I have a theory that a lot of women who have had very hard weeks lifing start drinking early, hit the forums and bang YOU ARE VERY UNREASONABLE and probably raising the devil’s spawn!

Intheshower · 09/05/2025 19:39

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Intheshower · 09/05/2025 19:38

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Peanutlicious · 09/05/2025 19:33

Peanutlicious · 09/05/2025 19:31

I have been in the same situation. I told police and child's school. School actually were really proactive in contacting the shop and police about it too.

I also went into the shops with my son (under the guise of buying milk) and told the person serving, with my son beside me that he was 14. They looked horrified and son was mortified. I told son I would do that in every single shop I found he was trying to buy alcohol in if he ever behaved like that again. So far, it has worked.

Peanutlicious · 09/05/2025 19:31

I have been in the same situation. I told police and child's school. School actually were really proactive in contacting the shop and police about it too.

Discombobble · 09/05/2025 19:29

YellowOrangePink · 09/05/2025 19:21

Where did the bad behaviour come in to this? My child has never been in trouble. I have no reason to believe there's bad behaviour involved, what were you thinking?

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Well, they’re breaking the law by buying alcohol under age

Original poster

YellowOrangePink · 09/05/2025 19:28

Intheshower · 09/05/2025 19:15

So…
you’re cool with your 16 year old drinking out
and buying for their friends to consume

okay.

and GCSEs? Balancing boozing with GCSEs ok?

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Balancing Nat5s with a full time job would be a challenge yes. I'm not cool about it which is why I'm posting on Mumsnet because I'm annoyed other adults are giving these kids access. I wouldn't consider their activities to be boozing, it's much lighter, social drinking than that, as I've described. Friends and wider circles are another matter, but I'm not too concerned because other than this my child is actually quite sensible and we've discussed many times occasions where he's been offered drugs and was able to decline while saving face. I'm just somewhat amused by your responses here, if you think my child is dire straits - I'd love to see your reaction to other things youths get up to!

OP posts:

Intheshower · 09/05/2025 19:27

YellowOrangePink · 09/05/2025 19:21

Where did the bad behaviour come in to this? My child has never been in trouble. I have no reason to believe there's bad behaviour involved, what were you thinking?

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16 year olds dangerously drinking usually comes with bad behaviour

where are they all drinking? In parks?

Intheshower · 09/05/2025 19:26

Not many 16 year olds work full time
did they do GCSEs op?

Intheshower · 09/05/2025 19:25

YellowOrangePink · 09/05/2025 19:21

Where did the bad behaviour come in to this? My child has never been in trouble. I have no reason to believe there's bad behaviour involved, what were you thinking?

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they buy for others who drink dangerously

your child is buying to sell to others, knowing they drink dangerously
indeed you know they drink dangerously and have asked your child to stop selling to them …. But they have and continue to ignore you

Original poster

YellowOrangePink · 09/05/2025 19:22

ResumedDeliveryBets · 09/05/2025 19:21

Trading standards. I work for a council (one of many) that would take your report and send young people in to do a test purchase. This wouldn’t involve you or your child.

My council uses 18-20 year olds to test out the Challenge 25 policy. Some councils are assisted by younger teenagers to do this around vapes.

I think there was a news report this week talking about it if you google, but certainly report.

Thank you

OP posts:

Original poster

YellowOrangePink · 09/05/2025 19:21

Intheshower · 09/05/2025 19:18

Oh, ok. A 16 year old that works full time, drinks alcohol and buys alcohol for friends that get drunk and behave badly on it. And ignore your plea for them to stop doing this.

This is above my pay grade, way above thankfully

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Where did the bad behaviour come in to this? My child has never been in trouble. I have no reason to believe there's bad behaviour involved, what were you thinking?

OP posts:

ResumedDeliveryBets · 09/05/2025 19:21

Trading standards. I work for a council (one of many) that would take your report and send young people in to do a test purchase. This wouldn’t involve you or your child.

My council uses 18-20 year olds to test out the Challenge 25 policy. Some councils are assisted by younger teenagers to do this around vapes.

I think there was a news report this week talking about it if you google, but certainly report.

Original poster

YellowOrangePink · 09/05/2025 19:20

Motnight · 09/05/2025 19:18

Report to trading standards.

How are things with your child generally, Op? Sounds like there might be a backstory here.

There isn't really, they're otherwise fine.

OP posts:

Original poster

YellowOrangePink · 09/05/2025 19:19

KilkennyCats · 09/05/2025 19:16

Doesn’t your child have any will of his own?

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Yes! They do have a will of their own. That's the problem, it is not my will but their will to be doing this. See it from their point of view, it was the big brothers that helped out until now, new status level unlocked, how many 16 year old boys are going to start lecturing their peers on right conduct? They just want to have fun.

OP posts:

Motnight · 09/05/2025 19:18

Report to trading standards.

How are things with your child generally, Op? Sounds like there might be a backstory here.