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Original poster

To think my son aged 15 shouldnt be ID'd to buy....

91 replies

Marble179 · 02/10/2018 08:58

Alcohol Free Kopperberg?!!!

Whenever we had BBQs this summer or went to a party, my son now gets alcohol-free Kopperberg. He has been allowed some of the fall stuff in a small amount but is happy with the alcohol free and not in a rush to drink alcohol. I often had the same as him as it feels like a treat but without alcohol.

He has to have an adult buy it for him in the shop. The shop assistants insist on this even though we have pointed out that it is alcohol free.

Is anyone aware on the law on this and if that is correct? It's just a fizzy fruit drink in a glass bottle!

OP posts:
CrochetBelle · 02/10/2018 09:00

It's very very low alcohol, as far as I'm aware, and yes you have to be over 18 to buy it.

hedgehogboots · 02/10/2018 09:02

I’ve always thought this was ridiculous. I bought one when I was pregnant and was harassed for ID, at 25Hmm admittedly I do have a baby face though. It’s because it’s got 0.05% alcohol in or something like that so they have to check. Got ID’d for false eyelashes because of the tiny vial of glue. Also got asked for ID at age 16 for a 12 cert DVD of BBC’s Sherlock. Claimed they have to go 5 years above the age or some crap. The little bit of power definitely goes to some people’s heads sometimes!

DeadCertain · 02/10/2018 09:02

Legally you need to be over 18 to purchase it.

Bluelady · 02/10/2018 09:02

It's correct. Under 18 check out operators have to get the supervisor's permission, just like the alcoholic version.

dementedpixie · 02/10/2018 09:03

It's still a cider so counts as an alcoholic drink (even if it had a very low alcohol content)

DeadCertain · 02/10/2018 09:06

hedgehogboots it's not power going to peoples' heads - it's a requirement to ask people for ID on age restricted items if you believe they look to be under 25 years of age. Failure to do this can result in a prosecution for the member of staff serving the customer if they turn out to be under age and test purchases are regularly carried out to ensure that retailers are complying with the law.

MaryBoBary · 02/10/2018 09:08

As others have said, they are rarely alcohol free and it is just not worth the risk to a business to sell to an under 18 year old.

However, I just had a google and found this shocking fact:

It is NOT illegal for a child aged 5 (!!!!) - 16 to drink alcohol at home or on a private premises.

Why the hell is it legal for a 5 year old to be given alcohol?!? This is very disturbing to me.

PikaPikaTink · 02/10/2018 09:08

If a shop assistant serves an underage person alcohol they can be fined personally. Given that most are on minimum wage I think you are being very unreasonable to expect them to risk this to serve your underage son.

MaryBoBary · 02/10/2018 09:09

Here’s the screenshot from the drinkaware website

To think my son aged 15 shouldnt be ID'd to buy....
CarolineForbes · 02/10/2018 09:10

I got IDd for a packet of plastic knives, forks and spoons for a picnic so nothing surprises me now!

AmabelleOnabike · 02/10/2018 09:10

You can't buy a lighter under 18 in Ireland!

WhoLetTheCatsOut · 02/10/2018 09:13

The above posters are correct. As it's not 100% alcohol free ID would be asked of those who look young.

MaryBoBary · 02/10/2018 09:13

Oh and here’s a funny one for you - my grandmothers friend (in her late 70s) got IDd a few years ago in Sainsbury’s trying to buy brandy butter at Christmas 😂😂😂 presumably it was a new member of staff!

IsTheRainEverComingBack · 02/10/2018 09:15

It’s not completely alcohol free, that’s why. The issue is you misunderstand what it is.

owabno · 02/10/2018 09:19

The shop assistants insist on this even though we have pointed out that it is alcohol free.

Check the label.

MsHopey · 02/10/2018 09:20

I worked aldi and I got it on my record for serving someone under 25.
A well dressed 23 year old came to me for a few bottles of cider and I served him thinking he was over 25.
It turns out he was a test that gets sent round aldi and while it wasn't illegal he wasn't 25 so I got "extra training". Some people are just shit at guessing ages and he wasn't even under 18 🙄

MsHopey · 02/10/2018 09:21

That's was to PP, it's just our job and alcohol free is still set to the same requirements as all other alcohol products because it has a tiny amount in.

evilkitten · 02/10/2018 09:25

Last Christmas, I was ID'd when buying a cheese platter. Apparently "it might have a cheese knife in it". It didn't.

The world is full of this sort of bollocks. Don't let it get to you.

MrsReacher1 · 02/10/2018 09:25

The law cannot police what people feed their kids at home. It would be an unworkable law if alcohol consumption for children was forbidden. Parent's would be in trouble every time a DC had a sip of daddy's beer or ate a rum truffle at Christmas. You would then have to have a load of exceptions and limits.

The assumption is that parent do not give their children alcohol - and if a child is harmed because she/he has been given it then other laws will apply.

cblack · 02/10/2018 09:26

*However, I just had a google and found this shocking fact:

It is NOT illegal for a child aged 5 (!!!!) - 16 to drink alcohol at home or on a private premises.

Why the hell is it legal for a 5 year old to be given alcohol?!? This is very disturbing to me.*

Because there has to be a line somewhere and there is no need for a small child having a sip of a parent's beer to be illegal. Giving a five year old a pint is obviously a totally different kettle of fish and is clearly covered under other child neglect laws.

MrsReacher1 · 02/10/2018 09:27

X-post

Birdsgottafly · 02/10/2018 09:28

MaryBoBary, originally it allowed for medicines that had alcohol in them. As well as the household remedies around giving brandy/whisky to teething babies.

But now so children can have sips of drinks, or a very watered down wine etc.

After five the effect of alcohol on the brain lessons. It by no means that you can allow your child to drink, but it mean that a sensible approach can be taken.

Buswankeress · 02/10/2018 09:29

He has to have an adult buy it for him in the shop. The shop assistants insist on this even though we have pointed out that it is alcohol free
If the shop assistant won't sell it to him because of the alcohol content then they shouldn't knowingly sell it to an adult on behalf of a minor, that's illegal too, and the adult can be prosecuted as well as the shop assistant.

Is anyone aware on the law on this and if that is correct? It's just a fizzy fruit drink in a glass bottle!

As others have said it's not alcohol free totally, I think by law to be considered alcohol free enough to sell to someone under 18 it has to be 0.1% or lower (not sure on the exact figure) but regardless tbh even if it is totally alcohol free it's probably the company policy - tell the company if you have an issue, nothing the assistant can do (except lose their job and get a fine of course for serving it)

MaxTeyon · 02/10/2018 09:30

The Licencing Act 2003 specifically excludes drinks with an alcohol content below 0.5%. You do not need ID to buy it and anyone claiming you do is talking out of their arse.

Slimtimeagain · 02/10/2018 09:31

When I was 17 I tried to buy a couple of DVDs. One was a PG and the other a 15. Guess which one they let me buy. Yep, the 15. They would not let me buy the PG because I didn't have a parent with me but allowed me to buy the 15!

Another one, when I went to uni aged 18 (nearly 19) I could not buy knives because I wasn't 21. Frankly I think that's ridiculous. I moved in a week before my other flat mates so couldn't chop things up for a week as I coudlny buy any anywhere! I was a freaking adult!