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!

But I was asked for ID when I was on my own.

@Oliversmumsarmy that'll be because the cashier believes you look under 25, I'd take it as a compliment if you are over 25!

I am nearly 60 and probably look nearer 70.
As I said before the whole queue was laughing at the absurdity of it.

I like the term proxy sale. I'll rephrase my post with that.

Which is more likely: a proxy sale for someone who has accompanied someone doing a full shop, or a proxy sale for someone who is outside, in the car, at home etc? I think the latter.

I'd also be interested to know if the logic of proxy sales is applied to other areas in Tesco. If a mum buys Grand Theft Auto with a young kid present, is the sale refused? What about a Game of Thrones box set?

It can be the case with games too.
Harder to enforce though.
Scissors
Glue
Knives. etc...

So omBreROSE how can you be sure that a random lone shopper with appropriate ID isn't making a proxy purchase? Surely that's more likely than a family trying to disguise it under the normality of a full shop?

My brother once had Tesco’s refuse to sell him beer because he jokingly said to his then 9 year old son ‘what do you want then beer or whiskey’ his son said coke and laughed but they still refused to sell to him. They are totally ott and anal about it

If you serve a person with age restricted goods while they are with a person who is underage and they give the product to them you can be prosecuted. Just asking is this for you is not enough if it's taken to court. It's a huge fine and the loss of your job. Test purchases are carried out by a company that is contracted by the big supermarkets and you will be subject to a disciplinary action. Fail more than once and you could be sacked. Trading standards test purchase fail is immediate prosecution and being sacked. Checkout staff are not being jobsworths they are just trying to keep their jobs and feed their families. Encourage your daughter to always carry ID and there would be no problem then. If you have a younger teenager don't take them with you when purchasing alcohol. Easier all round and no hassle!

It doesn't give the checkout operator some kind of power to refuse the sale to a mother or father with their teenaged children
If the company policy states that the the cashier can't sell in that situation then yes they do have that power. You do not have the power to expect a cashier to go against company policy (and I say that as someone who also thinks it's utterly ridiculous that a family shopping cannot add age restricted goods to their weekly shop)
Or if it does it should clearly state it it.
Yes it should be made clear from the outset. "This is our policy" but it's just easier for customers and management alike to blame the cashier which ever way they jump.
Don't sell and upset customer = in trouble.
Sell against company policy = in trouble.

If you serve a person with age restricted goods while they are with a person who is underage and they give the product to them you can be prosecuted.

But this defies logic. A person is just as likely, probably more likely to give age-restricted goods to someone who isn't present. I just can't see how it can be logically inferred that the presence of an underage person means they're high risk for receiving the goods, and how a policy can be determined from such logic. It's not against the law, the purchaser is breaking the law. The seller has a duty of care under the "protection of children from harm" objective (see link) but why aren't all purchasers questioned as to whether they're buying booze for a kid?

www.businesscompanion.info/en/quick-guides/underage-sales/alcohol

I agree with how difficult a proxy sale can be to enforce, because if the underage person stays outside then the cashier won't know and will sell the item.

And if you are in your 60's then the cashier was being ridiculous, what an odd thing to do...

And surely this is why the law exists as it is? Tesco has no way of knowing or control over what happens to the booze/GTA/GOT after it leaves the store, so to prosecute them because Joe Bloggs bought a 6 pack, took it home and gave it to 14 year old Billy would be completely unfair. So why do Tesco make their staff fear prosecution for no reason?

With the age thing- at mine ( mid 40’s) l am able to work out ages quite well. I also live in a rural area and have most of my customers as regulars- that really helps.
Buying alcohol isn’t a right as such. So unfortunately many of you will be subject to more investigation if the cashier feels it is warranted.
Not age related, but you’d be surprised what people get up to to buy what they consider their right to purchase. Games fall into that category.
I have refused scratchcard sales, to those that can’t provide ID. I haven’t had the same issue with alcohol fortunately.
Alcohol is regulated differently in other countries. Norway and the US have much stricter rules in place.
I enforce this rule, but am also ID’d if l’m with my eldest teen (19) in a different store. Luckily he has been driving for a couple of years and always has ID on him.

I think when you go shopping staff in uniforms look ‘in charge’ - it can evoke challenging behaviour in some tetchy shoppers.
The reality is that the colleague is very vulnerable from customers & management!

Then it's up to management not to put the server in a place where an illogical policy will draw ire. They don't deserve abuse obviously.

I'm still interested to know why the presence of a minor raises the likelihood of it being a proxy sale. Surely you don't drag the boozing teenager with you.

I'm even more convinced that this is a bat shit policy. I remember when I was 16 and a mate wanted alcohol and knew someone old enough, we didn't walk in with that person we waited outside and around the corner. so by implementing such a stupid policy they aren't actually doing anything to stop underage drinking yet are giving themselves a huge pat on the back and fining staff for zero reason. Its all bullshit in my opinion. I don't even drink so it doesn't affect me.

notbad
I don’t think it raises it- just another example,used as it isn’t an obvious example ( to some )
It happens all the time - Mums with teens, preferring to buy the alcohol themselves so the teen doesn’t pick something up from the back of a car!
I don’t work on the checkouts -unless l’m covering, so my experience is mainly fags/lottery and those that bring alcohol as a combined shopping trip!
In that situation, it really is only adults.

Here is the guidance
www.drinkaware.co.uk/alcohol-facts/alcohol-and-the-law/buying-alcohol
Most of the supermarkets are clearly not complying

It's not the shops that are implementing these silly rules, it is the law. It is ridiculous. No one can control what you do with the product once you leave the store but they expect staff to control it at the point of sale.

It would be easier all round if we followed the example of the US and insist everyone show ID. Then we would all expect it and cashier's wouldn't be put in impossible situations.

Sweetie
It's not the shops that are implementing these silly rules, it is the law
Link please to the legislation
that says a 50 year old cannot buy claret when they have a 17 year old with them ......

-Shakes head- It's not in the law to withhold the sale of alcohol to someone of legal age with ID if they have someone under the legal age with obviously no ID, because you know, they are underage just in case they give the alcohol to the underage person. If that was the case then no alcohol should be sold anywhere other than a locked room whilst being watched to make sure it is all drunk before you leave, as anyone can buy alcohol and give to a minor if they buy it alone...

If someone further back in the queue happens to be from Trading Standards or an area manager of the company... sees us not implementing policy it will be dealt with very seriously

But you said this in response to my point about the cashier who already knew for a fact that the customer was 20. So the cashier was implementing policy, if the policy is to check ID when you can't be sure of age; if you're already sure, you don't need to check. If Mr Trading Standards is looking on and frothing at the mouth, all it would take, surely, would be for the cashier to state "It's ok, I already know that person is 20." T

But that's assuming, I suppose, that the Trading Standards rep is sufficiently reasonable to ask for an explanation before going off half-cocked. Which, judging by the policies in place, is not actually a very safe bet, now I come to think if it...

I have refused scratchcard sales, to those that can’t provide ID

Was it you who served me.

I never carry ID.

I haven't a clue where my driving licence is and I am not wandering round clutching my passport.