To want to know why Tesco won't sell me alcohol when I'm with my teenage daughter

[MrsSchadenfreude]

Given that it is perfectly legal for me to give her a glass of wine to drink at home (and has been since she was 5)? Was told in Tesco today that I couldn't buy wine as DD1 was with me. DD1 is 19 but had no ID on her, as we had just nipped out for a few bits. Cashier finally called a manager, who gave me the Spanish Inquisition, and finally said "OK, I trust that you aren't going to give any to your daughter."

It's not like I was buying WKD - I had a bottle of Champagne and one of an expensive Bordeaux!

Crazycat yep, he got it sorted eventually but it wasn’t as easy as it would be for most people. I think it was 10+ years, and I think they wanted to charge him more than most new drivers his age. I thought it was odd but I also don’t know all the details.

Actually, on the positive.
All teens that have come to buy ciggerettes/alcohol from me, have had ID. They are definitely the most obliging and polite ( in general really)
I think 25 is easier as it gives those who aren’t sure more scope.

But if they a caught selling alcohol to someone underage the shop get fined

But in the cases mentioned they weren't selling the alcohol to the teen they were selling to the parent.

Equally even if the parent did buy wine etc for the teen it is not illegal. As far as I am aware it is perfectly lawful to give your child of 5+ alcohol.

In my case I went in to buy a lottery ticket and was told I needed ID to prove I was over 25. I never carry ID with me. As I look about 70 I have never been asked to prove I am over 25 ever.

Equally even if the parent did buy wine etc for the teen it is not illegal. As far as I am aware it is perfectly lawful to give your child of 5+ alcohol.

And this is the problem right there. It's illegal to knowingly sell alcohol to someone that is for someone under 18. Though yes you can legally give your child from 5 a shot of absynthe if you are so inclined! The onus has been put legally on the retailer and not the parent/guardian of the child. I don't really want the responsibility of policing someone else's drink habits, but the law makes it so and I'm not going to risk it no matter how ridiculous I think it is personally.

I’m 26 weeks pregnant and I used the self service till in John Lewis a few days ago to pay for my mince pies, and three large bottles of port, Sherry and red wine, so had to seek authorisation for my purchases. The only item for me was the box of mince pies, and yes I ate all 6 of them, but the looks on the other horrified customers faces were hilarious!

I started joking loudly with the shop assistant about them thinking I’m the devil, and reminding everyone that it is Christmas and people do buy alcohol as gifts.

I can’t wait to go back and buy more alcohol now, and wait for the judgemental looks and shocked faces. I might buy some cigarettes next time too...

I havent yet been stopped with a teenager in tow...don't often go out with them

But nearly 18 year old wanted a little party with friends the basket was pretty much full of beer and it occurred to me as I approached the checkout that it might (rightly in this case) cause a problem

So i made him go wait in the car

People forget just cause they say they wont give the alcohol to their kids.They lie.Imagine the.

I worked in Tesco for years and I know 2 people who where sacked for selling to underage kids.

I also at 7 months pregnant was threatened with " im going to kick that baby out of you" cause i refused a sale.

All because I wouldn't sell some kids a tray of beer.And got more abuse when I wouldn't sell it to their dad.

I'm almost 28 and still get ID'd for cigarettes and alcohol, to be fair without make up I do look like a spotty teenager 😩🙄

Although I've noticed that whenever I'm with my 2 year old, I very rarely get asked for ID, but if I nip out for messages on my own 9 times out of 10 I'll be asked for ID. Maybe I just look more "grown up" pushing a pram? 🤷🏼‍♀️

I was with an ex boyfriend in Tesco years ago. We had browsed the shop and put a few bits in the trolley. He then went to the car and I went to the checkout. I was asked for ID and the woman asked for his even though he was nowhere to be seen! We were both mid twenties I should add. He didn't have any ID so no booze. Weirder still, this wasn't a tesco metro it was a big store so why or how she picked us out I don't know.

I'm still trying to get my head around AutumnalTed 's post about the 5k fine for failing 'Think 25'. Who issued this fine? If the cashier didn't deem the customer to be under 25, and they were, at least, over 18, then what offence has been committed?

I would dearly love to know the rationale behind the whole bonkers scheme. It clearly won't stop adults who want to buy alcohol for underage drinkers. I guess the purpose is along the lines of 'it makes us look like we're doing something to combat underage drinking.'

With regard to your question about trading standards sending in a family ‘test purchase’ scenario - of course that could/ does happen!

No it doesn't because unless it's a scenario where the child is clearly grabbing vodka off the shelves and talking about sharing it with their mates afterwards NO OFFENCE has been committed.

The general public are not so dimwitted that they don't understand the law just because they aren't qualified supermarket cashiers.

goldenbowl I suspect that they failed an internal audit and the cashier/ manager were disciplined. The fines are the worst case scenario if the person not ID'd was actually underage. That people can be fined by law for this is an urban myth.

People forget just cause they say they wont give the alcohol to their kids.They lie

But it isn't unlawful to give alcohol to your dc so I can't see the problem.
FWIW it has never happened to me as we don't drink

But it isn't unlawful to give alcohol to your dc so I can't see the problem

But its unlawful for me to sell it.
I was never gung ho and i did use my common sense but sometimes the cashier has to err on the side of caution.

I never get IDd when I buy red vermouth ;-)

And do the Trading Standards people send in a Mum, who is clearly over 25, with a late teen, to buy two bottles of wine, to test out the cashier? Or is it always just one person?

It can be either. But it's not just alcohol, it could be anything age restricted. National Lottery do their own checks too, to make sure we're not selling tickets to under 16's.

Ontop of all that, even members of the public and work colleagues can report staff for not carrying out 'Think 25'! A member of staff in my company (not my store) sold alcohol to her mate whom she knew was 20. Colleague reported her to management......instant dismissal.

That's ridiculous though. I'd rather boycott stores that have such draconian employment policies.

WatchingFromTheWings wait... why did she get an instant dismissal if the person (her mate) whom she sold to was of age? I don’t get that. Isn’t think 25 for if you aren’t sure then you ask for ID. How does it make sense to pretend you aren’t sure if you are?

A member of staff sold alcohol to a 20 year old... and was dismissed?! Wtf? That makes no sense. Surely if you actually know the customer is over 18, you don't have to bother with the Think 25 policy, since the point of the policy is to make you check ages that you're not already 100% sure of ???

(Crossed post with Quack)

Because the customer was clearly under 25 and the 'Think 25' policy was not adheared to. If it had been trading standards that had witnessed it there'd have been trouble. Thems the rules and we have to follow them.

WatchingFromTheWings No, I’m sorry but that is bullshit. What if a 20 year old looks over 25 (stranger things have happened) so doesn’t get ID’d does that mean the person who didn’t ask for ID should get sacked? If those that is so fucking stupid.

So not those.

Ok. I've misunderstood the Think 25 policy then.

I thought it was "Since it's hard to tell a young adult's age, if they look under 25, ID them to be on the safe side so that no one slips through the net."

But apparently it's "Even if you know for certain that someone is legally old enough to purchase alcohol, ask them to produce ID for no purpose whatsoever "

I accept I may be wrong. But I think most will agree that my first interpretation of the policy makes sense, whereas the second is totally bonkers.

If the person does infact look over 25 then they may not get ID'd. Depends on the person serving and how old they think you look. Have been told that there is a good chance it's being changed to 'Think 30' but not heard any more about that for a while.