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.

OP I can go one better... buying a bottle of wine in Asda & was refused as I couldn't produce ID when asked (I was 38 & had given up making sure I had my driving licence with me years ago). 21 year old niece produced her licence & said she'd pay for it... promptly told by assistant that no because it was obvious she was buying it for me

We sneaked to the self service checkout & had no issues

I think they make it up as they go along.

When I was in my late 30s and doing a full shop of over £100 of groceries the assistant asked for ID which I didn't have. A supervisor came over and said it was up to the sales assistant but that personally he would have served me as he thought I looked old enough but it wasn't his choice. Sales assistant shrugged and sold me the wine.

And this is why I don't shop at Morrison's. I once had a similar experience at our local one. It's the lack of common sense, misunderstanding of the law, and officious was I don't like. Speak to me like two adults, one who is doing there job and the other buying an age restricted product. Don't speak to me like a naughty kid. I've never shopped in Morrisons since.

My local Sainsbury's are great and seem to be on the ball and operate a check 25 but sensibly and with reason.

whiskey

DSis was also refused in her late 30s, but she was with her 19 YO DD, who did have ID, so she went outside and sent her DD back in to buy the wine. Madness.

I left DD (18) loading the shopping on to the checkout in our local Morrison's while I nipped to the loo.
Came back to find that the cashier had stopped scanning mid shop because she'd reached the gin and DD standing looking embarrassed because she'd left her purse in the car with her ID.
I said 'It's ok I'm here now - sorry, never thought' and the cashier said as long as I had ID (I'm in my 50s!) it was fine!
I didn't (don't drive) so DD had to run to the car to get hers.
It was a bit weird tbh 50+ woman refused gin but allowed it when 18 year old DD produces ID

The law is you have to be 18 to purchase alcohol. This challenge 25 thing is all well and good but it's taken literally I'm not sure if you look 25 or under yeah but do I look under 18? I'm 40 and been asked in Morrisons I'd be flattered but it's the common sense that needs to be used . How can they loose there job I'm 22 years older than the legal requirement, I have a daughter old enough to buy alcohol . On a good day I may pass for 30 but not 25 and definitely not 18 . I always carry my driving license anyway but occasionally I don't , I go out with just my phone and use Apple Pay .

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.

Has that ever really happened? I've heard of companies being fined, but an individual going to jail?.............

The problem is that they have to account for this in their policy to stop unscrupulous employees selling to underage people because they “know they are old enough” as well as to make sure that they comply with the law at all times. The penalties for not doing so are severe for both the retailer and the employee. If you are asked for ID (which is perfectly acceptable no matter how old you are) and you fail to provide it, then they cannot knowingly sell you age restricted items as they have not physically seen evidence that they would not be breaking the law and therefore be subject to fines etc. The law is that it is illegal to sell alcohol to an under 18, their policy dictates they ask for ID if that employee thinks you appear under 25 (or for any reason, they are not obliged to sell you alcohol- or anything actually- at all if they don’t want to). You cannot expect them to make an exception to their policy for you. What would be stopping someone in the queue behind you from reporting it to the police- “oh yes I saw Julie on checkout 4 serve this woman even though she asked for ID and the woman didn’t have any”- believe me that the police would investigate (unfortunately I used to work in a shop where the clientele were, er, less than desirable, and would report you in a similar manner if you refused to serve them for being drunk etc). If you had been served without question then that wouldn’t be an issue (unless you are underage obviously!) but once you’ve been questioned you must provide what they request or they would be contravening their policy which in turn would undermine their position on how the ensure they don’t break the law.

Just carry ID. It’s not hard!

I once got ID'd in tesco for a bottle of red wine. My younger sister happened to be with me (13 and in school uniform) and although I had ID they refused to serve me as my sister was underage. When I challenged whether parents were unable to buy alcohol with children present I was told 'it depends how old they Look'. So because I did not look old enough to be my sister's mum (they obvs didn't know she was not my child) they refused to serve me despite my ID. I actually could not believe that he could seriously think I was buying a 15 quid bottle of red for a schoolgirl (who is clearly related to me as we look very similar)

The guy then told my sister to go outside and wait and he would serve me. I told him to stick his wine.

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

Please explain which law has been broken when a person in their 30s who might look under 25 tries to buy alcohol?

Follow up question. Please provide links to any shop assistants who have been fined or jailed(!) for this non offence.

I was asked for ID at download when I was 40

To be fair it was chucking it down and I was wearing my husband’s baseball cap🤣

I once got refused alcohol because my boyfriend who was sat in the car didn’t have ID 🤷‍♀️ We’d been walking around together but he needed to take a phone call I think. The operator asked for mine, which I had (I was about 25) then asked for his! As he didn’t have it I wasn’t allowed the booze, utterly ludicrous.

It’s policy. I work in my friends pub when he is stretched for staff, I once had a woman scream that I wasn’t going to have a job in the morning if I didn’t serve her (I reckon about 16 year old) self if she didn’t show me any ID.
Didn’t work and she got barred

Policy is policy...

As a current employee of Morrisons I can inform you that it is policy to follow the challenge 25. It doesn't matter the age of the product you are buying, if the operator doesn't believe you look 25 they are to ask for ID. If they see a younger person asking someone older to buy a product they will refuse also. However much it annoys the customer, it is what the operators are to do. Test purchases are done in all stores through various methods, either by the police, the company or camelot for lottery. If they do not adhere to policy the can be fined, face prosecution or be dismissed. The company also can be fined and face prosecution. The operators are put in an awkward situation and people should should have more respect for them. It isn't a difficult thing to carry ID so show some respect. These operators are not beneath you, they are simply doing their job regardless of how silly you find it

This happens to me sometimes in morisons. I just go back in store and go to self service or another checkout where I know they'll serve me (have previously before).

I'm 32 and have had my nearly 10 year old with me before so I was like 'i would have had to give birth at 8 years old to be under 18!'

Ive been asked by for the lottery despite wearing my work uniform and having my son with me who kept saying mummy..... I know I look young but 1. Most big company’s don’t employ anyone under 16, 2. If I’m under 16 that made me 4 when I had my son. Sometimes it can be flattering but other times it’s a damn inconvenience. I even got refused paracetamols a couple years ago. The fact I had a credit card and my son who called me mummy. Had to get my dad to get them for me as he was behind me in the line.

It's such a stupid policy and it's often young cashiers making the decision. When I was in my late teens and early 20s, I was always surprised when someone I viewed as young told me they were early 30s. It's because honestly I thought people in their 30s were ancient. Now I see that the reason I thought they looked youthful is because actually you're not old in your 30s and that actually they probably looked their age. IYSWIM.

Now I'm older I can usually guess people's ages quite accurately even if at first glance they appear to be younger. Imo people who are in their late 20s and 30s usually look it and it's rare that I've mistaken someone to be substantially younger.

Long story short: It's crazy that people in their 30s are being refused alcohol unless they have an exceptionally neotonous face.

Fyi they never i.d you at the self service unless you are like a 16 year old school boy. They are just too busy running from checkout to checkout so just use those whenever in mori

Just carry ID! They would be fined personally and sacked if it was a spot check from the council/police and you were under 18. Be flattered! Dd gets refused in some places without id, others don't check if she's with us (she's 18) it does vary but it's her responsibility to bring id

Sainsbury's once ID me for TEASPOONS! I was 25 at the time and apparently I needed to be over 16. Had no ID so was refused the purchase, had to leave without my tea and biscuits too. I'm still annoyed and it was 5 years ago now!

Not alcohol but my ds18 was asked for Id for buying fuel. He had driven in his car so obviously over 17 fuelled up then was asked for ID at the till. He had his driving license with him but said what if I didn't have any on me did they want to give it back !

I've often thought that the actual issue with situations like this is that people don't like being told no by those they perceive as beneath them.
All the comments about shop assistants being idiots kind of backs that up really.
To my mind only an idiot would put their job on the line for the benefit of someone else getting a bottle of wine. And to go against company policy is putting your job on the line, in any job.
There was a thread a little while ago about a shop assistant being hauled in for a disciplinary for a proxy sale. It happens, even if no laws have been broken, company policy, no matter how ridiculous (and about 90% of those serving agree) has been broken, and can lead to serious problems for the person serving.

Morrison's refuses to serve me non alcoholic pear cider last week!

It was through the self service and the red light came on. I assumed it was a mistake but no they took it off me!

modesty that's sheer lunacy. You just wanted a cup of tea. I think I might have put in a complaint for that. Surely teaspoons can't count as a weapon?

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/3567105-Proxy-Sales-At-The-Till

There's the thread, for a proxy sale to someone ID'd but with someone younger who wanted the item.