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!

Noted- if I ever work as a cashier selling alcohol, I should ask everyone for ID just in case, rendering ‘Think 25’ pointless. What an odd world we live in.

Can people please stop being so harsh on retail staff. There seems to be a general idea that everyone who works in retail/supermarkets is too dumb to do anything else. I got tired of the people speaking down to me pretty much every minute of the day and dreaded having to ID people when called to checkouts. On one hand there's the reluctance to ask as people think being rude, sarcastic or generally unpleasant will make up for the lack of ID and on the other hand there's an even bigger dread of them being uncover trading standards/ mystery shoppers etc. Okay, so there will be checkout operators around that enjoy the challenge and there are genuinely thick as pig-muck ones too, but for the most part they are just ordinary folk trying to earn some money (rather than claim benefits) and not get fined/ fired in the process. Give them a break; if you get ID'd, accept it and move on, all causing a scene is going to do is ruin both your days. x

Exactly Kiki
exactly

Maybe it's time everyone had to show Id for all age related products then us poor thick shop workers wouldn't have to deal with knowfuckall arseholes all day.

Well said Kiki

kiki I don't disagree with you - and I wouldn't dream of being rude to checkout staff. I just think that the management need to sort our their policies.

Personally I would be thrilled to be ID'd. It hasn't happened for many years though But I'd be less thrilled to be asked to prove that my children are adults... Because they're not .

However, if supermarkets really do want to prevent parents purchasing alcohol then they need to a) make that clear so that the checkout staff aren't forced to try to explain this bonkers situation on a customer-by-customer basis and b) realise that it is a deeply ludicrous policy.

kiki
Fair point
BUT
the policy in my local supermarket varies depending which way the wind is blowing
some staff will not sell me booze if I'm with my kids
others let them scan and bag while I pay

Goldenbowl, you are correct in that it is a ludicrous policy - and one that puts the operator in a very awkward position. Fortunately, most line managers will always back up their staff on this one. It isn't just supermarkets, it's all license holders - I'm pretty sure that bar staff can be prosecuted for selling to someone on an underage drinkers behalf. It's just a more common encounter at the checkout. I personally think there should be clear cut government advice about your rights in the presence of an adolescent when purchasing alcohol. Or even as lazyarse suggests and make it mandatory for all. Ta1kinpeace I do think the ease of purchase does depend on the confidence, conscientiousness, experience and 'giveash*t' levels of the operator rather than the policy. Sorry, I do agree with everyone that it's crazyness, I just got a bit annoyed reading about the number of people trying to publicly shame and humiliate operators who are just trying to do their job with a big sign in front of them saying if in doubt, don't serve.x

What doesn't make sense is for the policy itself to require staff to check ID of customers whose age they already, definitely know to be over 18. That makes no sense. At all.

We have to be seen, as responsible sellers of alcohol, to be carrying out the 'Think 25' policy. If someone further back in the queue happens to be Trading Standards or an area manager of the company or even a member of the public (who then goes on to complain) sees us not implementing the policy it will be dealt with seriously.

But that still doesn’t make sense WatchingFromTheWings. One persons perception of age may be different and also helped if you actually know the persons age, so just because someone else views them as looking younger shouldn’t mean you get into trouble. You haven’t sold alcohol to someone under 18 so therefore no rule is broken. Think 25 is meant to be based on individual judgment so how can someone’s judgment be wrong?

I think I’m making this too difficult for myself. Like I say though I would never get angry or blame a cashier for having to ask maybe just slightly annoyed at the situation. I just don’t understand how you are meant to judge but her into trouble if someone else judges wrong even if the person is found to be of legal age and you know this because you know them.

Tesco policy is that if a group of people are buying alcohol, all of them have to have ID.

It would save time, wouldn't it if the supermarket put up a sign at the entrance that clearly displayed their policy?

Eg:

"If you have a teenager with you, we will not sell alcohol to you even if you have id that proves you (the purchaser of the alcohol) are over the legal age for buying alcohol."

Because the teenager won't have id to prove they're over 18 will they? Because they're not.

Then the customer won't waste half an hour schlepping round a tedious supermarket, and can choose to shop elsewhere.

Yes, exactly, Gerda. Nice clear display at front of shop, by booze and at till. Job done.

I also think the checkout staff’s attitude has a lot to do with it. If they say, as mine did, “You can’t buy alcohol because she’s with you,” quite aggressively, then that will get someone’s hackles up. If they said “I am sorry, but our company policy is that we are unable to sell alcohol if you have a teenager with you” then it might be better received. Only it doesn’t seem to be company policy, just completely random!

Iirc shops do infact have to have signage in regards to 'Think 25'. 99% certain we have them at the till point. Will try to look next time I'm in! Some shops (and I've seen them in pubs) even have staff wearing badges advising of the policy. Problem is theres always that one that thinks it doesn't apply to them. 🙄

I also think the checkout staff’s attitude has a lot to do with it.

Agree with this! If it's explained nicely most people do get it.

I hate this ID bullshit.

I'm 33 and get ID all the time. I don't drive so don't have a provisional or license so I have to keep my PASSPORT in my bag.

I repeat I am 33 with 4 kids. It's ridiculous.

WatchingFromTheWings Tue 12-Dec-17 09:29:29

Iirc shops do infact have to have signage in regards to 'Think 25'. 99% certain we have them at the till point. Will try to look next time I'm in! Some shops (and I've seen them in pubs) even have staff wearing badges advising of the policy. Problem is theres always that one that thinks it doesn't apply to them. 🙄

Yes indeed they do, but my hypothetical teenager will not look over 25, and will not have ID to prove that s/he is over 18 because s/he isn't. And if I am shopping with a hypothetical teenager I would like to know if i'm going to get served before I've filled a trolley. "Think 25" *DOES NOT DEAL WITH THAT ISSUE DOES IT?

Haven't RTFT but my Dad had this a few years back in Sainsbury's. He was doing a full weekly shop (so £100 worth of stuff) and had two bottles of nice red wine. They refused to sell him the wine, because he had DB with him and couldn't provide ID for him. He was eleven!!

Common sense approach needed. If you're buying WKDs with a 15 year old in tow I can understand it.

This has happened with me before with my mum (I'm 26!). Now, if she's buying alcohol and I don't have my ID, I go and wait in the car while she pays. It's madness!

Tesco policy is that if a group of people are buying alcohol, all of them have to have ID.

That's utterly ridiculous.

I teach teenagers, some of whom are doing work placements in care settings. So if a 17 year old accompanies an adult to the supermarket to help them pack and carry bags the person they are with cannot buy alcohol?

I've RTFT and it's bonkers. The whole premise of not serving alcohol to someone accompanied by someone who appears underage seems to be than an irresponsible overage adult is more likely to supply alcohol to someone underage they've dragged round the shop, as opposed to someone underage who might be outside, in the car, at home, outside the viewing range of the seller etc. Given that isn't true, and it's more likely to be the opposite, then the only logical solution is to never serve anyone alcohol ever, just in case the give it to someone underage.

In other words, it's bonkers.

I had a look at the Think 25 notice at the till last night. It clearly only refers to the person buying the alcohol. There is no mention of the fact that if you have anyone with you who looks under 25 then you will have to prove their age too.

I worked in a supermarket, not Tescos however. We followed think 25, and occasionally I'd end up IDing people very over 25 and most of the time they didn't mind. If anyone kicked up a fuss over lack of ID, I just ignored them and didn't take it to heart.
I worked in a store in a uni area so a lot of the students would try and show me their uni ID instead and get angry when I wouldn't accept it.

We were told in regards to a proxy sale that if an adult is accompanied by someone under 18 it was fine unless you suspected they were trying to actually do a proxy sale. Then you should ask for ID.
It was a case of using your own common sense! I never ID'd a parent with a teenager because it's pointless.

OP the think 25 applies to the entire group if they all look under 25 you should ID everyone. It's different if it's a parent and someone under 25 :) But that's the policy at another supermarket, not Tesco.