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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Morrisons refused to let DD pretend to pay for the shopping...

341 replies

AllTheseThingsThatIveDone · 15/06/2018 19:36

Because my shopping included a bottle of wine.

Often pop to my local Morrisons for small top up shops. Popped there this morning to buy a few bits, including a bottle of wine. DD aged 3 likes to 'help' me at the self service checkout, scanning the shopping, and then at the end I lift her up and she uses my debit card to make the contactless payment, or puts the coins in etc.

Today as I was about to lift DD up to pay, the lady overseeing the checkouts rushed over to stop me and said DD wasn't allowed to pay for the shopping. She said it wasn't allowed as then the alcohol could actually be for her, or the debit card could actually be hers. When I pointed out that DD is only 3, and the debit card was mine, and it was clearly me really paying for the shopping she said it didn't matter Hmm

AIBU or is this completely bonkers? I could totally understand this if I had an older teenager with me but it feels like there is no common sense anymore Confused

OP posts:
The80sweregreat · 15/06/2018 20:22

Life is full of ‘jobs worths’ and things we can’t do anymore.
I hate it too but people need to enforce these rules - they probably think it’s ridiculous as well but they have to do it or risk their job which probably took them months to actually get and train for! World isn’t the place it once was ( I know I sound old)

Lemonsherberts · 15/06/2018 20:22

My ds loves doing this. Miserable buggers....

Purpleneonpinkunicorns · 15/06/2018 20:23

Oh my GrinGrinGrin

Slowtrain2dawn · 15/06/2018 20:25

Yep it’s mad! But I also agree that you can’t blame the sales assistants, they have it drummed into them that they will have to pay a fine and lose their job. When I shop with my adult children I check if they have their ID before I buy alcohol and I send my youngest away from checkout ( teen). It’s become automatic now and obviously if I wanted to buy minors
alcohol I wouldn’t take them in with me so I doubt the rules are reducing underage drinking....it’s just making it harder for me to buy my Merlot!!

megletthesecond · 15/06/2018 20:27

Kids can't buy alcohol or put it through see service. Morrison's have always been hot on this.

MrsJayy · 15/06/2018 20:27

Trading standards can come down heavily if a shop assistant seves underagers it can be 5k my mum did a personal liscencee(sp) course for her job in a corner shop.

The80sweregreat · 15/06/2018 20:28

The way they keep on about childhood ‘obesity’ and tooth decay etc etc it’s a wonder they haven’t introduced ID for buying crisps and chocolate / fizzy drinks etc!
Only adults can buy it - I can see this coming in one day though..

worridmum · 15/06/2018 20:29

Would you do something that would give you a 15k personal fine and a criminal record is it worth the risk ?
I am sorry but its really not worth the risk how about you complain to your MP and get the law changed?

MrsJayy · 15/06/2018 20:29

So if she served underagers or sold to an adult for underagers she could be fined she also had to oversee her shift.

SummerGems · 15/06/2018 20:30

It’s the law though. It’s not just that morrisons being jobsworths, selling to a minor is illegal and shops can and do get mystery shopped by trading standards.

My DS wasn’t allowed to sign for shopping from ocado at his dad’s because it had wine in it. The ocado driver had to take the wine away so ds could sign for it, he was eleven at the time.

Quartz2208 · 15/06/2018 20:31

Its all under the Licensing Act 2003 and following a change in 2012 magistrates court can issue unlimited fines for selling alcohol to children

It sounds daft but by using the card TECHNICALLY (and it is technically) that is what happens. Laws like this though tend to be (correctly) black and white - its selling alcohol to a minor

Lalliella · 15/06/2018 20:32

So you’d like the checkout lady to be sacked and the store prosecuted just so your DD can have a bit of fun? How precious are you? Get a grip.

RunMummyRun68 · 15/06/2018 20:32

Both the police and trading standards send underage kids etc in

They use police cadets

No way would I risk a fine or my job so a toddler can mess around on tills!

Missingstreetlife · 15/06/2018 20:33

I don't think it's all that sensible to let children play or pay with bank cards or phones until they are old enough to have one and know it's not a toy

Crunchymum · 15/06/2018 20:33

Maybe she was getting pissed off with you holding up a hill whilst you faffed around with your child / shopping? Maybe she just wanted to make a point Hmm

kalinkafoxtrot45 · 15/06/2018 20:33

Completely ridiculous, but you can see why shop staff are rigid on this when they could personally be held liable. Britain really is jobsworth central.

Crunchymum · 15/06/2018 20:33
  • till not hill
MarklahMarklah · 15/06/2018 20:35

I still don't understand this. The card is in the name of the parent. So it is the parent making the purchase.

If the card was in the name of the child, that'd be another whole ball game.

DrCoconut · 15/06/2018 20:35

@Timeisslippingaway Morrisons refused to sell me alcohol under their challenge 25 policy. I was 40 at the time. Maybe I'm aging well Grin

The80sweregreat · 15/06/2018 20:38

Drcoconut- I would have been flattered! I have never been id’d - had a hard life.

bookmum08 · 15/06/2018 20:38

Technically the OP could also get into trouble from the bank for letting someone who isn't the name on the debit card use it.

PattiStanger · 15/06/2018 20:38

Are you new to shopping? Everyone knows that every so often a sad face story appears in the newspapers about something child and alcohol related at the checkout.

Smile to yourself and move on, it's a total non issue imo

Shednik · 15/06/2018 20:39

This has happened to me! My three tear old wasn't allowed to "pay" for petrol.

UrgentScurryfunge · 15/06/2018 20:39

It is an annoying technicality.

I've had alcohol confiscated at the till by a very appologetic assistant; I was old enough to buy it in the 20th Century!
I know it's not worth the potential consequences to the staff, as irritating as it it.

The80sweregreat · 15/06/2018 20:39

Bookmum/ it gets worse!