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 love how people are always so shocked like their circumstances are unique somehow

Trust me we have heard it all before. We lost it . It's in my other coat . I just got out of prison. It's in the post.

Believe me it's not personal and you arent special.

Would you expect Tesco to let you walk.out with your shopping for free because your baby threw up over you and your card is in the washing machine by accident ?

No.

Get over yourself

@Theghosttrain Yes you can go to prison actually and a £5000 fine! Check your facts!
www.haringey.gov.uk/business/licensing-and-regulations/trading-standards/trading-standards-age-restricted-sales

The companies “empower” the staff to challenge 25 (holding the actual colleague responsible) and that is why no one else can over ride that decision.
It doesn’t matter who you know in the store etc, if you dont have ID and are challenged you wont be served.

It isn't a difficult thing to carry ID so show some respect.

It is if you don't have it. I don't drive, so don't have a driving licence, and I haven't been abroad for over a decade so my passport is well out of date.

Fortunately, I look every last year of my age, so I've about as much chance of being asked for ID as the Queen would have.

I don't think I have ever been asked, even when I was under 25.

Yes you can go to prison actually and a £5000 fine! Check your facts!

Not for selling alcohol to a 33 year old - which was the point

Theres the citizen card

We have the form in shop for those .

If you dont have it or wont get something dont complain when you dont get served

It doesn’t matter who you know in the store etc, if you dont have ID and are challenged you wont be served
Explaining how a stupid shit policy works doesn’t make it any less shit or stupid.

@badlydrawnperson but the checkout assistant wouldn't have known that hence asking for ID!
Christ it's the law just like all the other millions of laws! Why are people so affronted that staff just do their job!

Retail staff aren't the brightest??!!! Well just so you know how wrong you are. In my store alone several staff have left to become teachers. Several still work there even though they have degrees. The company runs graduate schemes and apprenticeships. You may want to check your facts.

As others have said, once asked and you don't have ID you can't be served. That's been the rule at two bar jobs I've had including at a festival. It's not just a Morrison's policy.

I'm 28 and got asked for ID in Aldi the other week, I said to the bloke "come on now" and he just authorised the sale, laughing. Was hoping he'd out up more of a fight tbh. Must get some Botox.

Times have changed and policies are in place for a reason. Operators have seen every trick in the book. Young people taking their baby cousins/ brothers/ sisters etc to seem older, girls with make up and low cut tops, boys with a bit of stubble etc. The staff have a job to do. They do not like to ask but they have to. They do not do it to offend. They do not do it just for fun. They do it because they are paid to. They have bills to pay and families to feed. I'm 32 and look young. I take it as a compliment. I've been asked by new starters in my own store before. It's just them doing their job.

Why are people so affronted that staff just do their job! Staff are entitled to do their job. Op was known to a number of them, who could verify her being (considerably) over 18. Stupid wank faced policies ruin it for everyone at this point, because they override simple common sense. No-one is going to jail for selling wine to a 33 year old.

As others have said, once asked and you don't have ID you can't be served. That's been the rule at two bar jobs I've had including at a festival. It's not just a Morrison's policy.
It’s a shit rule.

Op was known to a number of them, who could verify her being (considerably) over 18.
No-one is going to jail for selling wine to a 33 year old.
I completely agree.
Some of you are missing the op's point she was known to them they know her age she used to work there. no common sense whatsoever

Not rtft, but rules pftt, the situation you have described is utterly ridiculous. You actually knew someone there and they still refused. Unbelievable.

I was ID’d buying alcohol free wine in Sainsbury’s. No ID on me so was refused.

Went to customer services to complain I couldn’t buy alcohol free wine which isn’t Agee restricted anyway.

My cousin was working on customer services so could be absolutely certain how old I am, but her colleague refused to let her sell it to me

Whilst I would like to feel flattered that I was asked for id in my 50s I don't. I feel irritated because I just want to do my shopping and go home. On a good day I might be able to pass myself off as 40 something but even that's a stretch. If your staff really are unable to differentiate between a 50yr old and a 25 yr old then you haven't trained them enough.

I get that there is a bit of a grey area at times but common sense needs to be used alongside the think25. Neither of my two sons, who are 17 and 20 have ever been asked for id in the same store.

My cousin was working on customer services so could be absolutely certain how old I am, but her colleague refused to let her sell it to me

Oh yes the old "I can vouch for them" trick.

Had that one pulled on me several times. It's not an acceptable form.of ID.

Of nothing else this thread illustrates exactly why we have these policies and why they have to be so strict.

So many people with excuses of how they should be exempt from being asked.

And even resorting to calling shop workers thick.

Let's just remember here who it is that cant fathom why we need to be so careful. Amd why we cant listen to all the excuses as to why they have no I'd or refuse to carry it or think they are above being asked

That had nothing to do with the wine. Staff members arent allowed to serve family in most supermarket

Its really hammered in to most retail staff that the fine applies to them personally.

I used to work somewhere we had secret shoppers who would check we were following the think 25 policy (eg theyd be 21 or 23) and if we served them without asking we could be dismissed

Sarah When Morrison's are asking my 78 year old mother for ID, and there is no way on this earth she looks anything like under 25, then yes, there is a problem with the system.

I had this in Aldi last week. I'm 32. The worst part was that I had a photo ID card on me which proved that I was 32, and they wouldn't accept it because they said it needed to be a passport or driving license.

It was bizarre and insulting. As if they thought I could be a haggard-looking 17 year old carrying a fake ID and claiming to be 32 years old.

The level of rudeness to retail staff astounds me. I am a manager in a very large supermarket and almost all of the colleagues I work with are either working their way through uni, returning to work after being a SAHP (with varying education levels) or on a manager training programme. They are certainly bright, intelligent people. There is a challenge 25 policy which has been around for a long time. It isnt a tick a box type exercise. It is a policy that has to be followed otherwise there are repercussions for the individual and the store. Testers are sent in to ensure the policy is being carried out. These testers are sometimes internal ones and often external ones. We get a number of each every single month. So yes the policy will be followed strictly. It doesnt take much to pop a driver's license or citizen card in your card holder along with all the other cards people carry.