Online shopping won’t deliver to under 18 year old

Most supermarkets seem to say they won't deliver to under 18 but then some of them will anyway (fine in my opinion if no alcohol). Ocado have delivered to my 16 year old DS on a couple of occasions. He doesn't really look over 18 either.

That isn't really an explanation though. All the online retailers will require you to be over 18 to open an account but they don't tell their couriers/Royal Mail that they can't deliver to under 18s - unless it's an age-restricted product. There has to be another reason.

And a 17 year old could do the weekly shop in-store as long as they don't buy alcohol or medicines (or crackers ;) )

It’s always been like that

I don't understand it - they must know if there are age restricted items or not (and even then they might only be 16+, not 18+) and everyone else delivers and doesn't care who opens the door to them to sign for a parcel!

The only exception I know to that is Amazon if they deliver alcohol they ask for ID so if nobody was home over 18 they wouldn't deliver either but that's it.

Omg that would have been epic. No more sneaky a sip out of the spirit cupboard and topping up with water 😂

I used to work for Tesco customer service. It's because the Ts and Cs state you must be over 18 to create an account and place and receive orders. So, the delivery drivers won't deliver to anyone under 18. It doesn't matter whether or not you order age restricted items. If someone under 18 is the only one at home, the driver won't (or shouldn't, apparently sometimes they do!) deliver, because the customer is breaking the Ts and Cs by not having someone over 18 accepting the delivery.

Even zero percent beer needs to be age checked at the self service tills, v annoying

I did inded but this being MN, some smartarse would have said 'but it isn't Christmas!'

Not the same thing but I remember reading on here years ago that a MNer who looked very young for her age had to go and get her 18 year old son out of bed to come with his ID to take the shopping in because the OP couldn’t find her driving licence. Still makes me laugh

I read 'crackers' and initially thought of crackers you eat with cheese. Couldn't work out why they were deemed an explosive material! I have now realised you presumably meant Christmas crackers!

Actually alcohol free beer, or the type I buy at least, does get flagged as it has a very miniscule amount of alcohol in it. Same when buying crackers as it is deemed to be an explosive material I assume.

We got caught out by this when arranging a home delivery by Tesco for our DCs when we went away for a few days. One of the DC is 18 but because they were in the bathroom and not immediately available the very rude driver packed up and took the shopping away . We did complain and the shopping was redelivered. There were no age restricted items.

Tesco has handed over the shopping to my 15yo before. He’s about 6ft and I just assumed the driver had thought he was a bit older (or maybe he just didn’t care) no booze just food.

Ive gone through the Asda T&Cs and three times they state they won’t deliver to U18. No explanation but its very clear.

My guess it’s a mixture of drivers having to deal with younger members of the public and also disputes in delivery (substitutes etc).

I wonder if it’s a new thing? When my dc was 15/16 I often had deliveries to the house and he would make sure he was in if I got held up at work.

haha - I recently brought a knife at Ikea and it came up that they don't even sell knives to people under 21. I asked what students are meant to do (since I thought it was basically the law that all students buy all their kitchen stuff at Ikea) and they said they tell them to go to Tesco.....

I get companies wanting to cover themselves but it does seem like part of the infantilisation of teenagers. It's not so long since you could leave home, get married, have a baby at sixteen. But you can't order some shopping. (Not that I'd recommend the first three!)

It’s very easy to get alcohol delivered, I order cases of wine and they can be left in a safe space and there is no age verification when ordering. Amazon tends to be pretty hit or miss when they require age verification.

I don't order knives in my shopping.....

Odd. Never been an issue here. Has happened once or twice. Never even knew it wasn't 'allowed'

Which shop?

This rule protects your child from predators and protect the driver from allegations

If they look older, then it often won't be questioned. After the stabbings carried out by teens, after knives have been delivered to pick up points etc, policies have changed.

I got age checked in ikea recently because I’d bought a knife sharpener, not even an actual knife!
The world has gone mad.

I recently ordered Morrisons through Amazon, they leave on the door step and it is in insulated bags. Not great for the environment, but I needed some shopping at short notice and was able to book same day.