To be baffled by Morrison's ID policy

[Babyfacemortified]

I am really at a loss to understand what I have just experienced. Very minor in the scheme of things but I have been left with a lingering uncomfortable feeling.

I made an unplanned stop at my local Morrison's store for a bottle of wine and didn't have my purse with me, just my bank card. So I didn't have any ID with me but I am 33 years old and was dressed for work in business wear so it never crossed my mind that I would be asked for it, even with challenge 25 as I am 8 years over that but to my amazement, I was asked. In many ways, very flattering. This isn't the part that annoyed and bewildered me....

I previously worked in that store for 5 years (starting 16 years ago) and am still on good terms with many of the staff, including management. It's a small town so I still chat to my former colleagues when I see them and keep in touch on Facebook. I didn't have ID, so was refused the sale. This is fine as for whatever reason, the checkout assistant was not confident that I was old enough to buu alcohol.

I asked whether a different member of staff on another checkout could serve me as they would know for a certain fact that I am old enough but was told rhat no, that is not possible and the assistant refused to let me take the wine to another checkout or call a supervisor.

The people behind me in the queue were really nice, as they could obviously tell I am clearly well over 18 (and 25, unfortunately) but I still felt really embarrassed not to mention disappointed at having to leave the lovely Malbec I had been looking forward to!

On the way out, I spotted a supervisor I used to work with and explained the issue to her, told her I realised it was totally my own fault for not having ID but I really did fancy a glass of wine and had a friend coming the following day so could do with something in to offer, so could she aerve me on her checkout but she also refused. She said that although she knew my age, it would be against the law for her to serve me now that her colleague had questioned my age!

Surely this is madness? I absolutely respect the right of the first checkout assistant to refuse if she isn't satisfied that I am old enough, as the consequences of serving someone under 18 can be very serious, but if another checkout assistant and supervisor knew that I was in my 30s they can't be prohibited from serving alcohol can they?

Name changed as very outing.

I'm pretty sure that is the rules. If they ask for ID they have to follow it through.

No idea, sounds weird though.

What moisturiser do you use?

She said that although she knew my age, it would be against the law for her to serve me now that her colleague had questioned my age!

Curious to know exactly what law she thinks she'd be breaking?

You're right it is madness, but this is Morrisons policy, not the law at fault. Challenge 25 is an advisory policy, not the law, and of course if someone knows you personally they can serve you (even if someone else has asked for your ID)

Unfortunately/fortunately it's the same rules in any shop you go to. I've had this in my local Tesco. It's also fun having a stranger say "she's clearly old enough" to the checkout operator...

It might be store policy, but it's not against the law at all, that's complete bollocks.

Its not the law at all. Its a shitty policy that people without common sense cannot implement properly.

I got knocked back for tobacco last year in Co-op. The checkout operator told me he was certain I was over 18, but because I looked under 25 (I am 38 and have not needed ID since I was 15), it was against the law to serve me.

Some people are just idiots!

I would be screwed as, being a non driver due to a medical condition, & too poor (due to the same medical condition) to afford foreign holidays or need a passport, I have no photo ID. I've recently given up dyeing my hair... evidently the effect is very ageing as, although I'm 38 with no hint of wrinkles, I've not been asked for ID recently. Grey hair is the answer, OP. See - there's an upside to everything!

I had exactly the same situation in a Waitrose. Alcohol sale was put through by the staff member that knew me from when I worked there over a decade ago.
I don’t think law around alcohol sales is that specific that selling alcohol to someone you know for a fact is well over 18 but that doesn’t have an ID on them would be illegal. Still, if it’s store policy then I guess the supervisor would have been in trouble if she’d put it through and management found out so I see why she didn’t do it. But illegal is (probably) an exaggeration. Shame you didn’t get to enjoy your wine.

It's been so long since I've been ID'd, my driving licence is just for show now.........

I once had my card declined in the shop I worked in and my colleague/frenemy said he had to take my card and cut it up jobsworth

@mightskys was it lost/stolen? I think that used to be the rule when I was in retail about 15 years ago, if a card came back as reported lost or stole, we had to destroy it.

@Nikhedonia no I was just skint

Same at restaurant/pub if you’ve been asked for ID you can’t serve the person until it’s provided

Just hopping onto the thread to boast about the fact that I got ID'ed in Tesco's last week and I'm 46.

I was all proud until the woman on the till explained that she had to ask a certain number of people per day and "You look like you wouldn't mind"... Way to ruin the potential ego boost.

It's shop policy.

I got IDd for a box of paracetamol in Sainsbury's and even though I was clearly over 16, they still enforced the same policy - no sale after one member of staff had refused.

I had to leave and buy it at the pharmacy down the street. Who thought the entire thing was ludicrous, given there's not actually a legal limit for paracetamol.

If you worked in the store than you should know that if you have been asked for ID and have been unable to produce it, then they cannot serve you.

While it might be stupid, ultimately its the person that serves you that gets the punishment and I would go without the bottle of wine if it makes sure that the sales assistant doesn't end up in jail with a massive fine.

Many places have the policy that if you're asked for ID and can't provide it then no sale, not from another checkout, or a supervisor. Company policy. People who follow company policies tend to find themselves still employed, people who don't tend to find themselves in disciplinary hearings and/or unemployed. I don't think those people are the idiots really. I wouldn't risk my job so someone else can have a glass of wine. No matter what they think of me.
It's the policy makers who probably have never served a customer that are misinterpreting the law, or putting heavy handed policies in place with equally heavy handed penalties for staff for 'using their common sense'.

And this -
Challenge 25 is an advisory policy, not the law
Is a bit of a grey area. To get a license you have to meet conditions, one condition is that you implement a challenge age policy, be it 18, 21, 25, 30 or whatever. Challenge 25 is 'best practice' so it's the most commonly used one. So while 'advisory' it's also a mandatory requirement for the license. And yes they check you're using it. Like a pp said, you have to ask a certain amount of people and record each challenge, ID shown, refused sales etc. Failure to adhere to license conditions can lead to sanctions.

I can't copy the link for some reason but this is from the government website indicating changes to mandatory conditions to licenses in 2015
Age-verification
The premises licence holder or club premises certificate holder must ensure that an age verification policy applies to the premises in relation to the sale or supply of alcohol.

This must as a minimum require individuals who appear to the responsible person to be under the age of 18 years of age to produce on request (before being served alcohol) identification bearing their photograph, date of birth, and a holographic mark. Examples of acceptable ID include photo card driving licences, passports or proof of age cards bearing the PASS hologram, although other forms of ID which meet the criteria laid out above are also acceptable.

The premises licence holder or club premises certificate holder must ensure that staff (in particular staff who are involved in the supply of alcohol) are made aware of the existence and content of the age verification policy applied by the premises.

This condition does not exclude best practice schemes such as Challenge 21 or Challenge 25 which require individuals who appear to be under an age which is greater than 18 to provide ID.

I got ID'd in a pub a few months ago. I'm 37!

I got asked not that long ago and had my driving license so handed it over. I had to wait ten minutes for a supervisor to come over as the person who challenged me couldn't work out how old I was from the date. Wouldn't have minded except there is no way I look under age and I have a significant '0' birthday this year that definitely doesn't start with a 2

It may be policy, but it sure as hell isn't illegal to sell booze to someone you categorically know to be over 18 (from having employed them). It's also just not common sense and it is unnecessary.

It ain't illegal, but it's a Morrisons policy written warning or even sackable offence to serve someone who has been challenged for ID and failed it.

Your glass of malbec isn't worth that supervisor's job, eh?

Ends up in jail lol

My son works in morrisons and a year or so back they had temps in. One worked for a day on his section then next day on checkout. Where she refused to serve him. The irony being he manages the booze section (you have to be over 18 to do so)

Its bloody stupid but i do think its the rules that if they ask for it they hsve to follow it through. The other week, i had baby in a baby carrier and got id'd yo CASH IN a scratch card... wasnt even buying one, just claiming my prize. Im 23, look about 30 if im completely honest. Guy in the queue behind me said very loudly "really, you're not sure if shes over 16?" I get they're just doing their job but, come in, use a bit of savvy

With this challenge 25 scheme are you providing proof you're over 18 or over 25? I've always wondered.

StealthPolarBear

I think it’s that if they look under 25 they have to show ID proving they’re over 18.

I must have a really old face as I have never once been asked for ID - even back when I was 15 😂.