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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think age prohibited purchasing has gone too far.

55 replies

BlueJean · 29/05/2014 23:14

Shopping for a gift today I popped into TKMAXX for a mooch.

I was really puzzled over one item that had a big label attached to it stating " Not to be sold to under 18s".

It was a single item. Not edible,quaffable or smokable . Not sharp or able to cut or pierce.

So why on earth does a (rather nice) basket for 2 bottles need such a warning on it?

OP posts:
BitOutOfPractice · 30/05/2014 08:23

I had to be age verified for non-alcoholic wine

OnIlkleyMoorBahTwat · 30/05/2014 09:01

I was refused wine because while they were happy I was over 18, they did not believe that I was over 25. I was about 37 at the time.

They would not listen to my argument that they did not believe that they were breaking the law, only the shop's ridiculous policy.

GoshWhatAPickle · 30/05/2014 09:12

A supervisor at my son's birthday party wasn't allowed to light the candles on his birthday cake because she was 17.

Darksideofthemoon88 · 30/05/2014 09:24

Couldn't agree more. What really gets me though is people being prevented from buying alcohol because they have their 12/15/17/34-but-with-no-ID -aged child with them. The law states that you can drink alcohol in your own home from aged FIVE. How is this remotely compatible with the law against buying alcohol for minors?! I'm not suggesting that it's at all ok to be buying copious amounts of alcohol for a 11-year-old, but I can't get my head around why the mere presence of an under-18 who is somehow related to you means that you can't buy a bottle of wine Confused

OnIlkleyMoorBahTwat · 30/05/2014 09:39

Exactly Darkside. And why is the presence of said under 18 YO significant? Surely if you were going to buy them illicit alchol, you would make them wait outside?

So therefore, if we are going to be ridiculous about these things, what about the people buying booze that don't have under 18s with them?

Aren't they suspicious because they might have an under 18 YO person hiding somewhere, that they might be buying booze for? After all, most people between, say late 20s and mid 50s are parents of under 18 YO DCs.

meditrina · 30/05/2014 09:57

I wonder if the "logic" that supermarkets apply to buying buying booze if you are with a teen also applies to their online shopping and they refuse to deliver to an address if there is any sign a child lives there?

Darksideofthemoon88 · 30/05/2014 10:10

Haha that's a good point, Meditrina! It seems to have almost got to the point where you're banned from buying alcohol due to your having the audacity to have a child... Out of interest, though, at what point do they start enforcing this rule? I'm assuming that I won't be stopped from buying alcohol when my baby is born (imminently, hint hint baby! Grin ), so at what point will they decide that I could be buying it for her and not for me? When she's five and can legally have a bit at home? When she's 12 and might want to? When she's 15 and her friends are all drinking at home? When she's 17 and desperate to be a year older?

Nocomet · 30/05/2014 10:17

The paracetamol rules were clearly put in place by a man Angry

Fluffy40 · 30/05/2014 10:19

My friend was refused sale of a cutlery set for a wedding present. She was 30.

Nocomet · 30/05/2014 10:19

As for alcohol, I'm always slightly amazed we are not pulled up when buying fruit cider with the teen DDs.

OnIlkleyMoorBahTwat · 30/05/2014 10:21

So you're pregnant Darkside?

I hope you don't plan on buying any alcohol yourself, because obvously you might drink more than the guidelines for pregnant women Grin.

Might want to step away from the cheese counter too.

Never too early to start imposing stupid rules to annoy customers.

HelpMeGetOutOfHere · 30/05/2014 10:23

I got asked several questions when buying alcohol with my 16yr old son present. Who was the alcohol for, would there be minors present, how old was my son etc etc.

I don't know of many 16yr old boys who like to get drunk on 4 bottles of prosecco and a bottle of Hendricks gin! I could have understood the questioning a little bit more if I had been buying koppaberg cider or something like that, which I had done the previous weekend without question when I had ds' aged 16 and 12 with me.

HelpMeGetOutOfHere · 30/05/2014 10:27

online shopping reminded me of the time I forgot that I had ordered wine and wasn't in for delivery, only ds1 who had just turned 16. They took my wine away Sad was most upset when getting in from work on a Friday evening and I had to go and buy a dodgy bottle of £5 wine from the Londis around the corner instead of the lovely bottle of Vouvray that I had ordered and knew due to the sainsburys van being chilled, would already be chilled enough to drink. I completely understand that they couldn't leave it with him, the driver did ask several times if anyone over 18 was round to sign for delivery for the wine.

SouthernComforts · 30/05/2014 10:27

I filled up my car recently, surrounded by signs telling me it was illegal for under 16s to fill up or purchase fuel. I went in and they said £20.01 anything else? I said ooh yeah I'll have a lucky dip for tonight's lotto.

I was refused. I'm 22.

I asked why they had illegally sold me petrol if they believed I was 15 or under. She couldn't tell me. I was on my way to work or I would have asked for the manager. Apparently lottery tickets are challenge 25 but driving a car underage is far safer for 15 year olds.

quietbatperson · 30/05/2014 10:39

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

memememum · 30/05/2014 10:41

I think some of the randomness is caused by the fact that the actual individual who sells the product to you at the checkout is now criminally liable. So they are not only working to the law and the company policy, but also trying not to get a criminal record and a fine whilst doing so.

StarDustInTheWind · 30/05/2014 10:58

I work in a craft shop and have to ask for ID for scissors, knife blades, some food extracts, and many types of glue and paints with solvents in if anyone looks under 25 - we usually have a laugh with people....

If you don't look a day under 80- "Are you over 21 madam", "No going off behind the bike-sheds ...." etc.... Loads of giggles ensue.... and some VERY racy tales from the most innocent looking faces!!

(and one Muslim lady was very pleased to be asked as she had not realised the extract she wanted to buy had an alcohol base...)

OddBoots · 30/05/2014 11:04

I was rather surprised not to be age checked at the self-service checkout when I bought one of these a couple of months ago (I reported it and hopefully it would be checked now).

mateysmum · 30/05/2014 11:09

I feel totally outraged that I have not recently been asked for ID. I think this is blatant ageism and suggests that people think I actually look over 25 which I find insulting and discriminatory!The fact that I am over 50 has nothing to do with it.Wink

Think I need to start another AIBU thread!

Darksideofthemoon88 · 30/05/2014 11:20

I don't understand why it's gone quite so mad in recent years though - have teenagers really got that much more stupid/liable to drink to excess since I was one?? I'm only 25, but I quite clearly remember:

Being able to buy paracetamol and codeine when I was very young - but nowadays, the cashier has to authorise that I'm definitely over 16 and will only allow me two boxes even then

Being able to buy alcohol truffles as a VERY young-looking 13-year-old

Being out in restaurants with my parents as a pre-teen and them being asked by the waitress if they'd like a small glass so I could share their wine

....and yet, I'm not an alcoholic - strangely Hmm. What has changed?!

sinningsaint · 30/05/2014 11:26

At our local supermarket chain under 18's are no longer allowed to touch alcohol Confused. So now I have to wait and find a member of staff to lift the crate of beer i'm wanting into my trolley as I have a bad back, and the cashier to lift it onto to checkout and back into the trolley when it's been scanned Grin. I naughtily then let one of my teen DC's lift it into the boot of the car..

CrohnicallyHungry · 30/05/2014 11:33

I got IDed for fruit juice once. And for a plastic spatula.

Prepare yourselves for 'think 30' though- I never got IDed till I turned 18, when they started tightening up. By the time I was 21, 'think 21' had arrived. Ditto with 'think 25'. I'm beginning to think I'll never grow out of needing to carry ID. I turn 30 next year.

And all this talk of online shopping reminds me of when I was heavily pregnant. I switched to online shopping to save hassle, and ordered a big crate of beer for DH. The delivery driver insisted on carrying it in for me as I was 'too pregnant to lift it' (but no questions as to whether I was too pregnant to drink it!).

Nocomet · 30/05/2014 11:45

I think my wicked DD1 might decide to go up and down the drinks aisle 'touching' alcohol, just to wind them up.

I know I would have done.

I always step on the grass, I just can't help myself.

MetellaEstMater · 30/05/2014 11:52

I just received this very timely email from Ocado!

I see this as a challenge wishful thinking.

To think age prohibited purchasing has gone too far.
meditrina · 30/05/2014 18:07

I've just has that email too!