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 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

About 20 years ago my ex's card was declined - he'd just been sent a new card and had handed the old one over by accident. You still had to sign the receipt in those days pre chip and pin . Anyway a code came up that the cashier didn't recognise, she checked her book and looked terrified, saying 'Oh no! It says I have to call the police!' A supervisor overheard and double checked - turned out she'd been reading the wrong error code in her book. Good job as she appeared to have decided my ex was a serial killer or armed robber by the look on her face

I honestly don’t recognise my own country things have become so ridiculous.

I don't think it is the asking for ID that is the problem, but the way it is asked. I look young apparently. I just hand over my ID and carry on.
I object to the cashier who has known me from being 16 and working in the store asking, "because it is store policy." She made it clear she didn't like me for some reason when I worked there so she must hold a grudge.
Also, the "you are older than you look" type comment. I am buying groceries with my 5 year old. Cut it out. Personal comments aren't needed. I did once say "and you are younger than you look since you are still working" to one officious lady. It made me feel vindicated.

Haven’t RTFT but who carries their passport round with them on the off chance they’re going to get ID’d? (I don’t have a driving licence - can’t afford lessons or a car)

Years ago I went to pound land to stock up on rizlas, filter tips and hair spray/mousse. I was allowed to buy the smoking parifinalia but not the hair spray or mousse as they said it had an over 21 policy! One look at the mad curls on my head should have been proof enough I needed it.

@fromyoutheflowersgrow

he looks sprightly for 92. He should have took his mother with him, to vouch for him, no doubt.

I used to get asked for ID often, well into my late 30s, which was ridiculous. I'm very short so maybe at first glance from a distance if not wearing your glasses I may look younger (I wish) but come on... That seems to have stopped now I'm 42. Now I just get refused because my 13 year old (who looks 15/16 tbf) is with me when I'm shopping! It's happened to me twice in the last year, so I make him go and stand well out of the way when I use the checkout now so I can't be accused of buying booze for him!

The irony is that when I regularly bought booze at age 14 - 18 (1990s), not once was I ever asked for ID!

They were quite right, once they have asked for ID you have to show it, unfortunately if you can’t they have to refuse to sell it to you.

I object to the ‘take it as a compliment’ crap. You’re saying I look like I’m trying to break the law.

I work in retail and a lot of you sound like nightmare customers. Luckily i can spot a wank*r a mile off and will have my supervisor close before I I.D someone. When they kick off I hand it over to the supervisor, I don't get paid enough to argue and question company policies. Nor do i give a hoot if you get your alcohol or not. I Like to think I have a bit of common sense though.

If they are caught serving you without ID they get a huge fine!!

Also, the "you are older than you look" type comment. I am buying groceries with my 5 year old. Cut it out

How does the cashier know it's your 5 year old? Could be a cousin or a brother or sister for all they know - which would have no indicator as to how old you are attached!

@chickengirl77

If they are caught serving you without ID they get a huge fine!!

This is definitely not correct - the offence that leads to a fine is serving alcohol to someone under 18. Failing to ID someone who may or maynot look under 25 before serving them alcohol is an advisory policy with no legal ramifications for failure despite what nonsense supermarkets and bars peddle to their staff

Its just company policy not the law. Its like painkillers by law no more than 35 paracetamol but often shops lump others in it.
If Thats Life were still about they would be Jobsworths.

It was alcohol-free hmm why wouldn't she be served that

It was mentioned upthread how can that count too. Can't find it scrolling back on phone but it's there.

I'm 42 and recently had a similar thing happen in a pub. I went with my 2 eldest for a carvery dd1 and ds1 17 and 20.
They wouldn't serve me, annoying, especially as my son got served but he has a full tattoo sleeve. Obviously at 42 you don't think you need ID. Kids thought it was really funny.

Tattoos are not ID 🤷‍♀️

A man with a hugely impressive, long, red beard in front of me in a queue was asked for the over 25 ID. He said shocked “I’m 38!” He had ID and everyone in the queue was chuckling. Till girl looked embarrassed

There is nothing in the Law that says that a supervisor cannot overrule a member of staff who has refused another staff member if that person can clearly and correctly vouch for a person's age. It may be a Company policy but it is not covered under the Licensing Law. The other annoyance when supermarkets who use "the law" wrongly as an excuse is when some refuse to serve alcohol to an adult when they are accompanied by a a minor. Supermarkets say it is to stop an adult from handing over alcohol to the minor when outside. The Law does not cover this type of sale. It only covers things like buying a drink for a minor on licensed premises when it is clearly handed over on the premises for consumption. Shops have an off licence not a taverners licence.

There is nothing in the Law that says that a supervisor cannot overrule a member of staff who has refused another staff member if that person can clearly and correctly vouch for a person's age. It may be a Company policy but it is not covered under the Licensing Law.

But under law the only way to 'clearly and correctly vouch' for someone's age is to see their ID. I doubt "but Betty said he was old enough" would hold much water as a defence. It's about proof. Companies have introduced policies like this so staff feel confident to ID someone without being undermined and bullied into making sales they believe they shouldn't. I do think that if a supervisor can prove they know the person is of legal age, they should be able to make the sale, however not force someone else to do so. But when company policy is not to do so, you will get into trouble for it anyway.

The other annoyance when supermarkets who use "the law" wrongly as an excuse is when some refuse to serve alcohol to an adult when they are accompanied by a a minor. Supermarkets say it is to stop an adult from handing over alcohol to the minor when outside. The Law does not cover this type of sale. It only covers things like buying a drink for a minor on licensed premises when it is clearly handed over on the premises for consumption. Shops have an off licence not a taverners licence.

No such thing as a Taverners license under licencing act (2003) it's on sales, off sales or both. Supermarkets are by design, off sales, but they still have a duty of care to prevent the proxy sale if they believe it's going to be given to a minor whether at the till or outside. Again, fear of prosecution (from campaigns and lack of understanding from poor training of those holding a license) and ambiguous laws have led to no one knowing what they could potentially be done for, so err on the side of caution. The fact that it's illegal to sell someone alcohol to give to a minor, yet perfectly legal to give a 5yo or above alcohol at home is just one of the contradictory things about licencing laws really.

Omg this happened to me once too in a shop l used to work in. They said it was because l had a child with me, which l did, it was my stepson, big burly lad who was going to help me carry it home for a family bbq. They said he didn't have id - l said he isn't buying it l am. I didn't go in there for months after that. Ridiculous! Staff should be able to use their discretion.

I worked for asda &my son still does,no ID you dont get served,some places are more strict than others but if you are caught and that person was under 18 you can be sacked and yes that has happened,so of those moaning you get asked the server/checkout person isnt going to risk losing a job.

That person could lose their job,they dont know your not buying it for them so they wont serve you.

I was asked for ID in a Safeway supermarket when buying wine. Their alcohol policy was/is to ID anybody who looks under 40.

"I worked for asda &my son still does,no ID you dont get served,some places are more strict than others but if you are caught and that person was under 18 you can be sacked and yes that has happened,so of those moaning you get asked the server/checkout person isnt going to risk losing a job."

Even if they didn't ask, I wouldn't have thought they would lose their job for serving someone over 18 or even over 25 alcohol

If a mystery shopper was to come in to check, the person behind the till still wouldn't lose their job because they haven't actually served someone under 18. They would only lose their job if the person was underage and the only people moaning on this thread are those who are well over 18, as in 30s and 40s.