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Original poster

Have to buy food with alcohol in M&S now?

59 replies

DedalusBloom · 17/08/2021 18:07

How new is this as a policy? I tried to buy 3 cans of gin and tonic ( they're currently on offer at 3 for £6) and was told very snippliy by the woman at self checkout that I had to buy a snack to go with them.

I questioned it and she reiterated that I needed to buy some food, and was pointing at the chocolate bars by the tills.

I didn't need or want any food ( in fact I'd just eaten) so I put the cans back and deprived them of a sale.

I wasn't planning on chugging them one after the other on the train home, for gods sake -they were going in the fridge as I prefer ready mixed to home measures so I don't go too mad Grin

I asked another member of staff about it on my way out who said yes, it's the local council's policy. But the previous week I had bought wine at Sainsbury's two doors away with no problem and was unchallenged.

It's not the biggest deal in the world but it does seem a bit Nanny State-ist seeing as I could have gone to the pub opposite and drunk all night without eating anything!

Has anyone else had this or have I been living under a rock?

OP posts:
Ivegotanewfridge · 17/08/2021 18:10

It’s news to me! Though when I did buy cans of G&T to chug on an intercity train ride after a long day working in London I always got a massive bag of crisps too Grin

SmidgenofaPigeon · 17/08/2021 18:11

What?! Where was this? That seems mad.

Lipsandlashes · 17/08/2021 18:13

This would surely have made the press if it was a local government decision as it would affect lots of different shops, so there would be loads of ‘sad face’ DM articles

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Original poster
DedalusBloom · 17/08/2021 18:14

Richmond ( Surrey). It does seem really odd, doesn't it?

OP posts:
PotteringAlong · 17/08/2021 18:16

I think they’ve got that wrong.

Rabblesthecat · 17/08/2021 18:16

Is it possibly a good to go so
More convenience type place compared to the Sainsbury?

I know some m and s on stations used to have that policy

Rabblesthecat · 17/08/2021 18:16

However but only if buying individual cans and bottles - big bottles were fine (which suited me as more cost effective)

Hardbackwriter · 17/08/2021 18:16

Was it at a station (you mention the train home)? Sometimes a local authority can impose specific restrictions on even just one shop - I used to live near a mini Tesco that (pointlessly - other shops nearby did) wasn't allowed to sell alcohol past a certain time because local residents mounted a campaign - it became a condition of their licence from the council. If it's at a station and they've had a specific issue with public drunkenness then they could have imposed this.

leafygarden42 · 17/08/2021 18:17

Good grief - WTAF- that sounds very annoying OP. I probably would have flounced out as well.

chocolatesaltyballs22 · 17/08/2021 18:19

You what now?!

Thatstheway · 17/08/2021 18:20

So you cut your nose off to spite your face then. Why not just pick up a packet of crisps?

SmidgenofaPigeon · 17/08/2021 18:20

I can’t believe that’s a real policy?!

SW1amp · 17/08/2021 18:21

That’s really odd!
I’ve seen it in lots of bars/restaurants where they can only sell alcohol as part of a ‘meal’
One near me does a half bowl of chips to sell with your drink to get around the rule

But weird in an actual food shop, especially if they can get around it with a bar of chocolate

Original poster
DedalusBloom · 17/08/2021 18:22

@Hardbackwriter

Was it at a station (you mention the train home)? Sometimes a local authority can impose specific restrictions on even just one shop - I used to live near a mini Tesco that (pointlessly - other shops nearby did) wasn't allowed to sell alcohol past a certain time because local residents mounted a campaign - it became a condition of their licence from the council. If it's at a station and they've had a specific issue with public drunkenness then they could have imposed this.
Ah this would make more sense as yes it's at the station.

However, people generally don't sit around at stations drinking ( as far as I know - even when I was a teenager I used to go to the park!) so not sure that there is cause and effect from public drunkenness at the station itself - far more likely the horse has already bolted and people come through who've got pissed in local pubs.

But a condition on their license would make sense.

I couldnt help but wonder if I'd bought a microwave meal with it to have at home - would that have been ok?

OP posts:
2tired2bewitty · 17/08/2021 18:22

It’s not an M&S thing cos I’ve literally just followed a chap through the self service tills who was only buying a bottle of wine. Might be specific to your store though.

Oblomov21 · 17/08/2021 18:23

Eh?

Original poster
DedalusBloom · 17/08/2021 18:26

@Thatstheway

So you cut your nose off to spite your face then. Why not just pick up a packet of crisps?
Well no because I wasnt planning on necessarily drinking them tonight. I wasn't planning on buying anything extra so it can wait until I'm buying some food for an actual purpose.

My problem ( such as it is ) was that even had I bought an unnecessary bag of crisps, I wasn't required to eat them all in front of her so what's the point?

OP posts:
Rabblesthecat · 17/08/2021 18:27

A badly thought out policy to stop high street drunkenness if it’s a problem where you are

chocolatesaltyballs22 · 17/08/2021 18:28

It's taking me right back to the scotch egg with yer pint stage of lockdown shudder

Fluffycloudland77 · 17/08/2021 18:29

Chocolate annihilates your taste buds for alcohol though.

It’d ruin gin. They could at least suggest you swap to port for a night or a dessert wine.

Original poster
DedalusBloom · 17/08/2021 18:29

@chocolatesaltyballs22

It's taking me right back to the scotch egg with yer pint stage of lockdown shudder
Grin
OP posts:
Thatstheway · 17/08/2021 18:31

So a total non event then.

Original poster
DedalusBloom · 17/08/2021 18:32

ODFOD.

OP posts:
VaguelyInteresting · 17/08/2021 18:35

Possibly problems with pissed up people on trains? You'd think it would be a blanket ban across all station shops though wouldnt you...

BikeRunSki · 17/08/2021 18:37

^
However, people generally don't sit around at stations drinking ( as far as I know - even when I was a teenager I used to go to the park!) so not sure that there is cause and effect from public drunkenness at the station itself

IME, people really do hang around drinking in stations