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Original poster

Would you be offended by this - alcohol / chainstore related

148 replies

JustAnotherOP · 23/03/2016 16:40

Most mornings I do a shop for the day / week. I always pick up a bottle of wine or a few beers along the way.

This morning I went to the chainstore (my local), to buy wine. Later today I went back to pick up a few more bottles. The cashier that served me in the morning was standing next to the cashier that was serving me later today. She told her that I was most likely drunk and they called their manager to decide what to do. I was eventually served and left but I asked the manager why her colleague had deemed me drunk. She didn't have an answer. I do look very young so being ID'd is not my concern but whispering among themselves that I'm drunk has really put my hackles up.

OP posts:
IHaveBrilloHair · 23/03/2016 17:11

I often buy beer from the small supermarket round the corner, so what, I'm never drunk, or have even had a drink when I'm there, I buy other bits and bobs too.
They can judge all they like, it's a shop, I spend money there, am always friendly and polite.
If I heard them say anything, or they said it to me I'd take my custom elsewhere and make sure they and their head office knew why.

Original poster
JustAnotherOP · 23/03/2016 17:13

firesidechat We always keep a stacked stock of alcohol regardless so it's quite normal for us to top up a bottle here or there. But with impending dinner we have a lot of booze to go round.

TheCrimsonPleb I'm not having a party tonight Grin. We do often have a glass of wine with dinner but when we have guests it's really a case of anything goes.

OP posts:
Cutecat78 · 23/03/2016 17:14

So what if you were drunk? Your money is as good as a sober persons.

They are a shop not an substance misuse agency - yes I would have been pissed off and offended - but then I guess you have to ask yourself if it did needle something a little deeper inside....

Floggingmolly · 23/03/2016 17:14

Exactly how long have you been stocking up for this dinner party? Hmm. Most mornings...

LurkingHusband · 23/03/2016 17:14

Ed Byrne used to do a routine about putting a load of booze on the belt with a tin of formula, and when it was totalled, "discover" he hadn't enough money, and ask the cashier to put the formula back Grin ...

Alisvolatpropiis · 23/03/2016 17:14

IHave

Whilst I agree it's rude to comment (unless the person in question is actually drunk), supermarkets rarely, if ever, care if someone takes their custom elsewhere.

My husband is still boycotting our local Asda after they refused to serve us wine on the basis I didn't have ID. I'm sure they feel the of his custom loss keenly.

Nataleejah · 23/03/2016 17:15

I'd complain. Disgusting behaviour

lavenderdoilly · 23/03/2016 17:16

Don't your guests bring their own booze or booze for the stash, as it were? Sorry to be so nosey but I think you need a word with your GP.

SlinkyVagabond · 23/03/2016 17:17

But yet you can rock up to any supermarket and buy a trolley full of booze. I hope no one judged me when I did that for WI Christmas party. (But if they did-meh)

GooseberryRoolz · 23/03/2016 17:19

It's illegal to serve alcohol to someone who is drunk cat. Not a rule much observed in pubs, but supermarkets are a bit different.

OP if you smelt of booze, you put them in an awkward situation. The cashier is risking a lot (job, large fine) if they get it wrong.

GooseberryRoolz · 23/03/2016 17:21

That was in response to;

So what if you were drunk? Your money is as good as a sober persons.

Buckinbronco · 23/03/2016 17:24

I don't think we know anything like enough to suggest the OP needs to see a GP

In my family if you come for a party/ wedding it's free booze all the way. The older members (having an 80th or whatever) will often buy a bottle every few days for Years to stock the bar at the hall they've hired, it's the only way they can afford to do it.

I remember most recently my great aunt doing this and she doesn't drink at all.

BoffinMum · 23/03/2016 17:27

Once we were in holiday in Brittany and we were doing a booze run at the local supermarket to last us the next year after we worked out the gap behind the last row of seats in our Renault acted as a useful kind of 'cave' for wine if we stacked them carefully. We quite literally went through the small supermarket with two trolleys full of wine, and when we got to the checkout, a very debonair French man looked over our trolleys and said "Now THAT is the kind of weekly shop I like to see". We had to agree with him.

We would probably be arrested in the UK for ingestion pre-crime.

lavenderdoilly · 23/03/2016 17:27

By op's own admission they should cut down on the drink.

firesidechat · 23/03/2016 17:27

I'm certainly not judging you op. We have a glass of wine with our evening meal most nights. The cashier was rude, but I was trying to explain how they might think. I worked in a small independent store and as far as I know the owner never refused to serve anyone, drunk or not.

ElementaryMyDear · 23/03/2016 17:28

So what if you were drunk? Your money is as good as a sober persons.

They're not allowed to sell alcohol to people who are drunk.

You do seem to be buying an awful lot of booze, OP, and more than you would need for one dinner party.

ElderlyKoreanLady · 23/03/2016 17:29

Their customer service needs a lot of work, undoubtedly.

That said, if you buy alcohol from them daily, sometimes more than once in a day, you can't really be overly surprised when you discover they're judging you for it.

Sparklycat · 23/03/2016 17:29

You pick up a bottle of wine and beer every day??

Original poster
JustAnotherOP · 23/03/2016 17:32

lavenderdoilly Thanks for your concern Grin. I wouldn't see my GP about my drinking a glass of wine every now and then. Perhaps your GP has less to deal with and welcomes healthy and active people. Not mine. He's snowed under at the moment. I shall update should he change his mind though!

OP posts:
lavenderdoilly · 23/03/2016 17:32

A poorly paid shop worker has to choose between your finer feelings and their job. No contest. Write to the manager if you really think they acted badly.

SaucyJack · 23/03/2016 17:33

I did Dry January this year, and I've kept up the dry weekdays ever since.

It's only when you stop drinking that you realise there's something really not quite right about buying alcohol every day, going home and drinking it it all, and then walking round the next morning hungover and stinking of stale booze.

I used to do a circuit of different shops each day or take it turns with DP to go out as I was quite ashamed our drinking. That sounds like my worst nightmare OP.

I hope you're OK in yourself.

Original poster
JustAnotherOP · 23/03/2016 17:34

ElderlyKoreanLady I'm not bothered about being judged. They can judge as they please. What I'm bothered about is the fact that I'd spent the best part of the afternoon re-drafting a contract and thought I'd run out to get more booze for the dinner/party only to have someone whisper that I was drunk.

OP posts:
lavenderdoilly · 23/03/2016 17:34

What you describe doesn’t sound like a glass of wine now and then but I apologise if I am wrong.

PovertyPain · 23/03/2016 17:35

The only thing I ever get asked by the Tesco workers is, "are you getting a wee bottle of wine to treat yourself?" That's on the way IN to the supermarket, no where near the offies. Blush

However, I do live in Northern Ireland, so we have a slightly more ....ahem....cosmopolitan attitude to drink. WinkGrin