To not understand why tesco were selling alcohol to a group of guys at 4.30 on a sunday

[LEMoncehadacatcalledSANTA]

So we were at tesco today and I had made DP go through with my bottle of wine at 3.55 so that we could get it before 4pm. Very nice it was too

Anyway, was at the till and a group of lads walked past and one guy had a bag of ice on his head, so i commented to the girl behind the till - perhaps he has a head ache. So she said "yeah, he'll have a bigger one in a minute when they wont serve him with all that booze" and we made a few jokey comments about it. Their trolley was FULL of alcohol - i can only assume they were going to have a party. They looked like students, probably early twenties.

As we walked out, about half four, there they were, at the self service tills with the Tesco supervisor lady putting through their alcohol

Now i don't really care but weren't they breaking the law? I bet they wouldn't have let me have my £4 bottle of libfraumilch but it would seem they didn't want to let the couple of hundred pounds with of blackcurrent cider go unsold

I dont understand.

Is there a deadline for alcohol?

Do you have restricted sales on a Sunday?
Did you not get served anyway as you went prior to 4pm?

No it's not illegal. Bet they're having a great time!

Can you not buy alcohol after 4pm then? I live abroad. And if this is the case, why would you care? I would be happy for them!

Because all Tesco round here are open until 5 and therefore under Sunday trading can serve until 5.

But you can buy booze after 4pm these days I think?

YABU to drink leibfraumilch . Disgusting?!!

I think the law has changed in England now hasn't it, to allow off-sales on Sunday? I have never had a problem buying at any time...

not sure were 4pm comes into it? Our local asda can serve alcohol until they close at 5pm

libfraumilch.
YABU and silly.

There are licensing laws which mean alcohol sales on Sundays are restricted. I once worked at a supermarket and they did this All THE TIME.

I made sure they didn't use my login code. I was not going to be stuck with a big fine.

Never heard of this being a problem!

It's either 10-4 or 11-5

I know you can't buy alcohol in the mornin (not sure of the specifics) of a Sunday due to licensing laws. But have no clue what the woman is sayin about after 4pm??

I don't care. Just curious. There is a deadline at 4pm and they announce it over the tannoy to make sure you get served by four or they wont be able to serve you, so assumed this was the law. But they were serving these guys - i just wondered why they were able to do this, as it clearly would show on the till so can't be breaking the law. Just thought someone who worked in a supermarket could cure my curiosity is all

My tesco sells alcohol after 4 on a sunday. I know its an issue earlier in the day but not then.

They were in the store before it closed, like you so as long as there was a till open they were legally allowed to buy the alcohol.
You didn't have to be served before 4pm.

Supermarkets can serve alcohol for the entire length of time that they are open.

Gone are the days where licensing meant that alcohol couldn't be served after a certain time: it made policing too difficult. Now, a stores opening hours will be restricted to their licensing hours.

Ragusa, you are wrong - tis lovely, sweet and morish :)

Was it an express store?

I'm confused, I can buy alcohol in any supermarket any day of the week until 10pm...? Is this not the same everywhere?

So why did they announce that all alcohol purchases had to be made by four then? today? on the tannoy, for everyone to hear? Surely they would be better just letting people buy it until they close - i have put alcohol back before now as i haven't got to the til in time, or not bothered as its been too late. So they are missing sales, surely?

no, it was a main store secrets - i still am at a loss