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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think checkout lady was being OTT about alcohol and child?

445 replies

Potkettlexx · 20/02/2020 15:02

In supermarket yesterday with DD 7. DD struggles at school so I let her help with shopping to get her used to the concept.

Bought some bread and small gift pack bottle baileys £5 for in-laws bday.

Got DD to scan the gift box and the bread and press the correct buttons etc... (dd Aldo has some sensory and coordination difficulties so again it helps this doing practical things)

DD wanted to pay with my card so I told her what buttons to press and gave her the card to tap on card reader. Dd didn’t really understand so I just gently took it from her and tapped my card myself.

Before I took over, dd was trying and the woman supervising the self service tills piled up ‘ohh you’ll have to be the one that pats with the card’ or something to that affect.

I was thinking.... for real?!

I get that they need to be very careful when selling alcohol....

I get that a 15 year old can look 18....

I get that an 18 year old could be potentially buying it for younger friends....

I get that they could be disciplined if they were willingly selling alcohol to under 18’s....

But for goodness sake, surely common sense would say she really didn’t need to say that under the circumstances.

After all, the reason the sale of alcohol is forbidden to under 18’s is incase they drink it and quite right.

That’s not the same as the this situation. It was clearly evident I was the one ‘buying it’ and giving my consent. Does she honestly think I was planning on giving it to my 7 year old?! 🙄

OP posts:
Bbq1 · 21/02/2020 11:28

Is the said goddaughter 18 or older? Only because if she is 18 herself how would she KNOW her peers she went to school with are 18? I didn't know everyone's birthday in my school year and I'm pretty sure that my son is the same. My point is that people in the same school year can have birthdays nine months apart. So, the Gd could assume that her classmates were 18 when they could actually still be 17.

woodchuck99 · 21/02/2020 11:35

My point is that people in the same school year can have birthdays nine months apart. So, the Gd could assume that her classmates were 18 when they could actually still be 17.

Well yes, you wouldn't want to take the chance if you were only 18 yourself. If you were 23 you could serve someone in your class and be confident that you weren't breaking the law.

FlamingoAndJohn · 21/02/2020 11:43

The jobs which don't require qualifications they can't really rely on workers to use their own judgement.

When I worked in retail every single member of staff was educated to degree level. Not everyone who works in retail is some shit thick school dropout.

woodchuck99 · 21/02/2020 11:48

When I worked in retail every single member of staff was educated to degree level. Not everyone who works in retail is some shit thick school dropout.

Yes but the job doesn't require a degree and people who have a degree wouldn't usually have it in anything that is relevant to the law relating to retail. While some people certainly are intelligent many are not. The policies and procedures has to take that into account. And before you ask, yes I worked in retail for many years as a manager.

PhilomenaChristmasPie · 21/02/2020 11:55

I used to let my DC do this when they still wanted to come shopping with me. My friend on the self checkout knew that the alcohol was obviously for me, so let us get on with it.

Lanurk · 21/02/2020 11:58

My 2 year old likes to tap and I was stopped once when I had beer because of the rules. I apologised and he doesn’t tap when I’m buying drink anymore. Sorted and I appreciated them telling me as I’d hate anyone to be fined because of me. The poor lass cringed when explaining so I dread to think about the abuse she must get

Allcrimps · 21/02/2020 12:27

Happened to me and my DS with a glue gun. He put that and a few bits from the trolley on the conveyor belt from the basket. I was also buying a flat pack drawer system thing and picked it up to be scanned. The checkout was tiny so it woukdnt fit on and I had to hold it. As my hands were full I asked DS to get the money out of my purse. The cashier said she couldn't let him hand her the money because of the glue gun. So we had to do an awkward passing of money to my hand that was still gripping the box and I sort of had to fling it in the direction of the cashier and let it flutter down in front of her. She was so apologetic bless her. It was such an absurd situation, we were all creased laughing. Does seem that such didactic rules defy common sense at times!

Allcrimps · 21/02/2020 12:32

Sorry I meant to add that in the Op's situation, common sense is that the employee was right, you can't let a kid pay for alcohol. I suppose the situations are the same really, but the cash flinging just seemed like a comedy sketch!

kittykatkitty · 21/02/2020 12:35

Op you sound so entitled....I hope you don't pass this attitude in to those around you.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 21/02/2020 12:44

"If you use shopping as a learning experience why not use real world facts?

I didn’t let my kids ‘tap’ for the fun of it. They knew it is my card and very very valuable. And belongs to me and only I use it. Likewise let your Dd know that shopping for alcohol is for grown ups only."

A very good point indeed, @SW16.

Willow2017 · 21/02/2020 14:13

I think that in situations where you have unskilled workers they probably have to put these kind of rules in place. The jobs which don't require qualifications they can't really rely on workers to use their own judgement

What utter BS. Did you actually think what you wrote was relevant in any way to licensing rules?

We still have to make a judgement according to the rules. Its not there because all shop workers are thick! Many shop workers have lots of qualifications myself included i still have to stick to the rules.

Having qualifications doesn't make you have common sense or impervious to making mistakes.
I know people with plenty qualifications that i wouldnt trust with a pet rock! No common sense at all.

No matter what qualifications you have if i serve you you will be treated the sane way as everyone else and stick to the rules. Qualifications do not make you special or above the law.

LolaSmiles · 21/02/2020 14:28

I know people with plenty qualifications that i wouldnt trust with a pet rock! No common sense at all.
Grin

mrsBtheparker · 21/02/2020 14:58

It’s along the lines of asking a 50 year d for ID.

No different from New Mexico where everyone is ID'd tp buy alcohol and even though we're in out 70s it would never occur to us to expect the law to be waived just for us, we lack a sense of entitlement, obviously.

Quartz2208 · 21/02/2020 15:11

This reminds me of Tom Hanks story of not being served because his id had not been verified. www.nme.com/news/tom-hanks-denied-beer-stagecoach-festival-2491259

But he still had to get his id verified. Even though he is (a) Tom Hanks and (b) clearly over 21!

Enko · 21/02/2020 16:16

*woodchuck99
@Enkothe sentence you quote means that as well as being underage they also tend to look underage. Nowhere does it suggest they might be older. You have misinterpreted.

As I have said before on this thread I am an x supermarket worker.

They use both underage and overage people. I do not see I have misinterpreted. I may read it in a different way to you that I will not argue over. If you look at the overall thread you will see several others state that they know of people who does this who are over 18.

I find it interesting that despite my asking you several times. you will not answer my question as to if you would be willing to take a fine for someone else at your work because they felt it was "stupid".

I get id when I go to my previous work to do a click and collect. I get id by my x boss and now a very good friend. This is the rules and I am ok with that. I carry my driver's license with me for these situations. I do not wish to place any in trouble over something as simple as this. (to place in context I am almost 50 so do not look anywhere near underage)

Alonelonelyloner · 21/02/2020 17:45

YABVU OP and you sound obnoxious to boot.

The law is clear. You could've been anyone.

BeyondMyWits · 21/02/2020 17:49

One of my previous jobs there was a tick box came up on the till - IS the buyer 18 or over. Not "do you think" or "in your judgement" - an actual question - if YOU ticked that yes box, you had to have seen proof. No matter if they were 18 or 106... they needed to provide proof of age.

woodchuck99 · 21/02/2020 18:10

I do not see I have misinterpreted. I may read it in a different way to you that I will not argue over. If you look at the overall thread you will see several others state that they know of people who does this who are over 18.

I'll try and explain it more clearly then as it seems pretty clear to me. In the second paragraph it states

"A test purchase is when Camelot, Trading Standards, the police or another local authority employ an underage customer who will visit your bar or shop and try to purchase age-restricted goods."

Later on they state they tend to use under 18s that look their age so that when test purchase happens you should not doubt that the person is under 18.

I can't see how you've managed to interpret that to mean that they might use over 18's.

I find it interesting that despite my asking you several times. you will not answer my question as to if you would be willing to take a fine for someone else at your work because they felt it was "stupid".

Why should I answer in an irrelevant question?

Original poster
Potkettlexx · 21/02/2020 19:24

@SoupDragon

Looks like you were wrong about that too 🤣🤣

But that makes my point more valid if children are allowed to drink! 😬

OP posts:
Quartz2208 · 21/02/2020 19:31

Oh Potkettlexx how on earth is that the case. It is illegal for anyone under 18 to buy alcohol across the board. In terms of drinking it there are different rules. For example a 16 year old can drink in a restaurant wine/beer/cider but not buy it.

In this situation it is absolute and it is black and white. Using your card would not be fraud but would complete the transaction and therefore she would have bought it. She did use common sense because she told you had to tap it. She didnt stop you buying it. Now if she had that would be a different thread

SoupDragon · 21/02/2020 19:36

But that makes my point more valid if children are allowed to drink!

No it doesn't.

You need ID to buy knives.
Under 18s can't buy them.
Under 18s are allowed to use knives in their home.

Original poster
Potkettlexx · 21/02/2020 19:51

@Quartz2208

That’s the point- If it’s not illegal for 5 year olds to drink alcohol what’s the point in having OTT strict black and white laws that say no one under age can buy it but it’s absolutely fine for them to drink it..... no bother, full your posts technically drinking as long as they can’t be seen to be ‘buying it’ as in my OP.

It’s illogical! If it’s illegal to under age drink then what’s the point in there being a law to buy it? Why prevent it?

It should be illegal in that case!

OP posts:
Original poster
Potkettlexx · 21/02/2020 19:56

@SoupDragon

Difference is under 18’s need to use knives at home as part of growing up so if course that can’t be illegal as it’s need must.

Then you’ve got the knife crime epidemic do they’re clearly trying not to facilitate anything associated with that so thats different.

There’s nothing good out if giving a 6 year old alcohol there’s no need for it whatsoever.

OP posts:
WalkingDeadTrainee · 21/02/2020 19:59

It's not illogical ffs. It's a safety measure.

They can drink it but it has to be provided for them. Which creates a level of control by the responsible adult. The adult then can supply only 1 small drink for example. However, should a child be allowed to legally buy it, they would have an access to dangerous uncontrolled amount. Safety and control🤷

Quartz2208 · 21/02/2020 20:03

Its only legal for those 5 and above to drink in their own house (very much allowing for parental control). Those rules and laws are of course supplemented by other rules regarding children and are limited in scope. It enables for sensible parenting. My 10 year old for example has had the odd sip I am happy with that.

Outside of the house it legal for 16/17 years old to drink wine/beer/cider (and only those 3) in a restaurant if an over 18 year old to drink it.

Both of those allow for parental discretion as to when they as PARENTS decide they wish for their children to be introduced to alcohol.

However the law dictates that it is not on an under 18 to decide when they are drinking so it is illegal to SELL alcohol to an under 18. I am sorry if mine and others have been confusing you because of course the illegality is not the BUYING but the SELLING. So its isnt your daughter who would have committed the illegal act but the the shop because they are the ones selling it.
It is also illegal for an over 18 to buy alcohol for the consumption of under 16s in a licensed premises.

So you are premising the illogicality of it on buying of it. Which isnt the illegal act. Its the selling of it. Its all covered under Licensing Law. Have a look at the Licensing Act 2003 its a fascinated read (joke) but covers pretty much everything you need.