Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Waitrose age ID check is bugging me

381 replies

Mothership4two · 14/09/2023 05:43

I was is a smallish busy Waitrose (not my usual shop) with DS (25) and I bought 6 bottles of (not cheap) wine, a box of chocolates and a handful of day to day food items. At the till I put the items on the belt and bagged them while DS stood waiting by the end. The cashier didn't put the wine through and asked my son for ID. I was a bit confused and told her that this was MY shopping (I'm in my 50s and sadly do not need ID). She ignored me and asked for his ID again. When I repeated it was my shopping she said it was company policy - other than that she was pretty uncommunicative. So DS went out to the car to fetch his ID and there was a bit of grumbling from the couple waiting behind who then went off to find another till. DS came back and she put it through without a word.

I wasn't grumpy with her, I was just neutral, paid and left. It was irritating but we weren't particularly outraged and had a laugh about it in the car. DS said he hasn't been asked for ID in years (he looks his age) and that no "youngster" would be spending £70+ on wine for a party. We thought it was odd though.

I know there are much bigger things going on in the World to worry about, but it has bugged me since then. I know the cashier isn't a mindreader but it was pretty obvious it was my shopping and very obvious that DS is an adult. And also what happens if you go around with your 16 year old child or younger and happen to buy alcohol, would Waitrose then refuse to let you buy it? I'm sure that happens in supermarkets up and down the country all the time - buying alcohol when parents are shopping with their children. I understand that supermarkets have to have a policy for not selling alcohol to childen via others but it was patently obvious that was not happening. The whole thing doesn't make sense.

AIBU and has anyone else been put in a similar postion?

OP posts:
MaggieBsBoat · 14/09/2023 05:47

I’ve had exactly the same.
One of the problems is, as I was taught when I worked in an off-license when a student, is once you’ve asked for ID you have to see ID. So even if it becomes patently obvious that you were wrong in asking, you have to follow through. Here I guess the young woman was doing exactly this, but being uncommunicative about it is very irritating.

MsFrost · 14/09/2023 06:04

Very annoying. I've had this as well and although I understand the law etc., and having to follow through once you've asked, it's very irritating when cashiers don't use their common sense.

Original poster
Mothership4two · 14/09/2023 06:14

Ah I didn't know that @MaggieBsBoat. It was pretty obvious what was goiing on, but it was busy so she may have been on autopilot - she didn't seem a happy bunny! She wasn't a young woman, looked early 60s.

Glad I'm not alone. Wonder how often it happens and parents aren't able to buy it and the store has to put it back?

OP posts:
Desiredeffect · 14/09/2023 06:18

I had done the same when I worked in a supermarket. Don't take it personally it's shop policy and the law. She could get fined and even prison if found to be selling to a minor even if your shopping. As he was standing there she has to I'd and she was only doing her job.

mondaytosunday · 14/09/2023 06:23

Yes it's happened to my son when we've been together. It's their job it doesn't annoy me.

Summerslimtime · 14/09/2023 06:26

Many moons ago, back in the days of smoking, I tried to buy some cigarettes. I was 30 and my boyfriend was 25. The woman wouldn't let me as she said he didn't look 18! Absolutely fucking stupid. We had no ID as we didn't need it usually. I know people will come on and explain why (I know why), but the challenge 25 thing does my head in anyway, as the law is 18.

fairyfluf · 14/09/2023 06:26

It is completely irrelevant that it is "your shopping" he was present at the purchase. Their policy is probably ID everyone who looks like they might be drinking the alcohol and is there or something like that. And once they've asked for it they've asked for it. Next time go round the shop separately near the end or make sure son has ID - he should keep it in his wallet really so it's with him. It's a really bad idea to leave it in a car.

fairyfluf · 14/09/2023 06:28

Summerslimtime · 14/09/2023 06:26

Many moons ago, back in the days of smoking, I tried to buy some cigarettes. I was 30 and my boyfriend was 25. The woman wouldn't let me as she said he didn't look 18! Absolutely fucking stupid. We had no ID as we didn't need it usually. I know people will come on and explain why (I know why), but the challenge 25 thing does my head in anyway, as the law is 18.

It's because it can be really hard to judge if someone is 17,18 or 19/20 by looks alone. So they just choose an age that is definitely about 18 as the challenge age.

WaltzingWaters · 14/09/2023 06:30

In a few supermarkets now I’ve recently been ID’d. I’m mid 30’s and whilst I do look young for my age, I certainly don’t look that young and haven’t been id’d anywhere in years. They must all be cracking down on it at the moment. But yeah, in your case it sounds especially silly.

PerspiringElizabeth · 14/09/2023 06:32

YANBU. I have an 8 year old and if I was buying alcohol with him in tow they would obviously assume it’s for me. It would be preposterous to not sell to me as I have offspring in tow. So in 5/10 years time they’re suddenly going to assume it’s not for me then?? 🙄 very irritating OP.

Summerslimtime · 14/09/2023 06:32

It's because it can be really hard to judge if someone is 17,18 or 19/20 by looks alone. So they just choose an age that is definitely about 18 as the challenge age

I know.

fairyfluf · 14/09/2023 06:32

WaltzingWaters · 14/09/2023 06:30

In a few supermarkets now I’ve recently been ID’d. I’m mid 30’s and whilst I do look young for my age, I certainly don’t look that young and haven’t been id’d anywhere in years. They must all be cracking down on it at the moment. But yeah, in your case it sounds especially silly.

Why is it silly? Computer says "alcohol- ID check please". Staff member asks those present for ID.

fairyfluf · 14/09/2023 06:32

Summerslimtime · 14/09/2023 06:32

It's because it can be really hard to judge if someone is 17,18 or 19/20 by looks alone. So they just choose an age that is definitely about 18 as the challenge age

I know.

I don't get why it "does your head in" then

Summerslimtime · 14/09/2023 06:33

You don't have to.

MissBiljanaElectronika · 14/09/2023 06:36

It’s the law, it’s the rules, did you not know?

she was just doing her job

does not matter if it is expensive wine at Waitrose or a bottle of cheap cider

do you seriously think that if you buy expensive wine at Waitrose different rules apply😂😂😂

Dizzydahlias · 14/09/2023 06:37

A couple of times when I’ve been with my DC as teens they have been asked for ID. It’s very annoying when buying for myself. Before they were 18 I had to tell them to wait beyond the tills so I would get served.

fairyfluf · 14/09/2023 06:38

Summerslimtime · 14/09/2023 06:33

You don't have to.

I was trying to understand the argument against it but you're right I don't have to.

Enthusedeggplant · 14/09/2023 06:43

It’s not the law. No reason not to sell to you in this situation where you are the purchaser. I asked to see the manager and got my booze added back on - I was never going to be able to get id for my 13 year old who was temporarily identified as a problem.

WeWereInParis · 14/09/2023 06:46

I've worked on the checkouts at a couple of supermarkets (Waitrose was one of them) and they both really really stressed the importance of ID-ing, and the fact that the cashier can be personally responsible and get in trouble, not just the shop. I wasn't about to lose my job (or worse) rather than inconvenience someone. And PPs are right about the fact that once you've asked, you have to follow through with it. I always hated the grey area of a parent with a teen though. Obviously if you had two late teens at the till you'd ID both, it wouldn't matter if just the one with ID was paying. And obviously you wouldn't ID a parent with a small child. But I never knew at what point you'd ID a parent with an older child.

This was about 10 years ago when I was in 6th form & uni, and I can only imagine that they've got more strict since then not less.

cuckyplunt · 14/09/2023 06:47

In the States they wouldn’t sell me booze at all without ID, I am in my late 50’s.

Redwinestillfine · 14/09/2023 06:47

I got Id'd for non alcoholic beer 🤣

TheGreenSketch · 14/09/2023 06:50

This would irritate me too. The Waitrose in my neck of the woods is staffed wholly by teenagers, drives me nuts that there’s never any common sense on the floor.

2weekstowait · 14/09/2023 06:53

I have to implement this policy at work. We ask for id from the person whose shopping it is and who is paying, which is generally pretty obvious. It’s not necessary, or correct, to ask for it in your case. You have to use an element of common sense - a group of underage kids with one older one might be different if it was obvious they could be purchasing for someone else. But teens or young adults with parents - ridiculous.

EquallyDetermined · 14/09/2023 06:54

They are just doing their job, she was probably cringing inside.

When I shop with DS (19) and we buy alcohol, if he hasn't got ID on him I get him to go back to the car or wait outside before we get to the checkouts, been doing this since he was about 15.

Hiddenvoice · 14/09/2023 06:54

Im in my 30s and still have this regularly it is annoying but sadly they are just doing their job. I believe once they ask for Id then they can’t back down. If you also had a teenager with you then they’d ask for id too and may refuse selling alcohol if they believe you’re buying it for the younger one.