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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To have called him a jobs worth?

82 replies

DreamInLavender · 11/03/2020 19:21

I had just finished work this afternoon and got DS from nursery. I went into my local supermarket who I'm a regular at and generally have a good experience there.

DS was sitting in the trolley. I bought some alcohol.. ''Sorry, can't serve you that'' I asked why not, I have ID if you need it. The woman said ''Yes but does the person you're with?'' I asked if that was a joke and she said no, with a very straight face. I said fine then and the alcohol was put aside.

I then go to the kiosk for my lottery ticket for Friday. The man there asked for ID, so I provided it Hmm He then said he couldn't remember what the cut off point is, as in the younger year to make me old enough to buy a ticket, so said he'd have to wait for his manager to confirm who's on lunch. I said ''Forget it jobsworth'' and left.

Was I really that unreasonable? I still feel quite annoyed at the sheer stupidity!

OP posts:
SarahTancredi · 12/03/2020 09:10

Same chap also i'd me for alcohol free shandy

Are we talking the can sold in the news agents next to the Pepsi and the fanta ?

Or somethings like Kaliber or alcohol free beer?

Cos bird these alcohol free beers are t alcohol free they are very very very very low alcohol. And I think although happy to be corrected that challenge 25 still applies

OhamIreally · 12/03/2020 09:20

Is it illegal for pregnant women to buy alcohol now?
Whilst I realise it's not advisable for women to drink whilst pregnant it's not illegal.
Those retailers refusing to sell alcohol to women are discriminating against them on the grounds of their sex.
It's none of their business why a woman is buying alcohol.

sqirrelfriends · 12/03/2020 09:23

@SarahTancredi it was Panache, so would have come up in his system as alcohol. However I went in there every week and usually got him, he must have seen my id dozens of times ( I'm also 30, as much I would like to I doubt I actually look under 25)

sqirrelfriends · 12/03/2020 09:25

@OhamIreally I didn't think the issue was me drinking it. He looked at me, the beer, the bump and me again with a disgusted look on his face. I should have let him speak but instead I said something along the lines of "oh don't worry, it's for my husband". That's what caused the issue.

slipperywhensparticus · 12/03/2020 09:25

The lottery machines and tickets have the age you need to be ti buy them all over it why the fuck was he confused?

SarahTancredi · 12/03/2020 09:27

Yes you would expect people to remember "regulars " after a while

Where I work we are think 21. So average range of ID is 18-26/26 I think when you get to think 25 you basically ID everyone and it gets ridiculous.

But, everyone is trained within an inch if their lives these days and you can lose your job for a perfectly legal sale Hmm

Its one of those things where I think if companies calmed down for 5 mins it might be more productive room to play common sense a bit more.

SweetPetrichor · 12/03/2020 09:30

They've likely had a secret shopper recently and been told to be extra careful. Ultimately, they don't have to sell you anything. It's your bottle of booze versus their job. Shitty but true. Yes, it is OTT of the woman over alcohol but when it comes to being OTT and keeping your job, then I know I'd be her too!
You were just plain rude to the other guy though. Completely unnecessary.

SarahTancredi · 12/03/2020 09:37

But she had ID.

Different if she didnt. it's a huge part of my job to ID people so I will defend d a policy that enables me to do my job and stay legal.

But that doesn't extend to staff members being unable to work out a birthday so refusing a sale.

Drinking on the street/non licensed premises is illegal. But theres nothing to stop adults giving children alcohol at home. I know it gets tricky when groups of teenagers are with adults but tbh those teens can just wait outside so they idiots if they insist on coming to the counter anyway if the alcohol is for them.

But it's not illegal for pregnant women or those with a small child to purchase alcohol. Only if said adult appears to be drunk in charge of a toddler.

Summersunandoranges · 12/03/2020 09:41

Oh I’d probably have said worse.

He stopped you buying something the first time over something which is totally untrue - this time I would have told him to get anybody over him - just so he would actually know what the fuck he was doing

OhamIreally · 12/03/2020 10:15

My experience of being ID'd these days is: I scan the alcohol, staff member comes up to verify age, falls back in horror at my baggy old face, keys in code and rushes away. No ID necessary! (unless they change the rules to "Think 55" that's the way we roll now).

Firelink · 12/03/2020 11:12

😂😂😂😂

KittyJune · 12/03/2020 12:13

You were cruel to him. That might have really upset him and ruined his day. I hate the way people think it’s okay to almost bully people who work in retail. I’d not see people talking to anyone in any other industry like this. Really bad behaviour Sad The woman who asked your toddler for ID was ridiculous and I was with you originally but the way you spoke to the other guy made me feel so sad for him.

Jupiters · 12/03/2020 12:16

I know it was frustrating but there isn't really any excuse to be rude to people and make them feel like shit.
Absolutely this.

thenightfury · 12/03/2020 12:21

As someone who receives annual training for our Think25 policy it's always made very clear in the training that adults can buy anything that requires ID as long as they don't look like they're buying it for the underage person with them. I always serve adults with alcohol etc even if they're with teenagers. Very strange and if I were you I'd put in a complaint

Cloudyapples · 12/03/2020 12:22

When I worked in a supermarket years ago it used to come up on screen with the date we needed to see on the Id - so he shouldn’t have needed to ask his manager?

thecatsthecats · 12/03/2020 12:28

"Jobsworth" is a nasty, entitled term.

If someone is literally going to suffer repercussions to their employment because they don't follow the rules (whether it's their fault for not knowing them or yours for not providing the right information), then why the fuck should they bend the rules for you?

You took your temper out on someone for not providing you with a non-essential service. If you do this regularly, you might want to work on being a nicer person.

pinkyredrose · 12/03/2020 12:31

You were cruel to him. That might have really upset him and ruined his day Hmm oh ffs. If he's that easily upset he shouldn't be customer facing. He was bloody incompetent by the sounds of it.

namechangetheworld · 12/03/2020 12:37

You behaved like an arsehole.

I can't stand the way people like you treat retail staff like shit on their shoe. I hope the bloke wasn't too upset and instead had a good old laugh about you with his colleagues.

Zaphodsotherhead · 12/03/2020 12:38

That's what I said, CloudyApples. The till prompts you to check age and tells you what date of birth needs to be older than. So either this wasn't a supermarket but a tiny corner shop without a proper till or something was wrong somewhere along the line. There's usually a bloody big sticker somewhere too.

I'm just wondering if there was something 'wrong' with your ID (do you look like your ID photo, OP?). We are taught not to say 'this doesn't look like you' but instead to call for a manager to verify the sale. Maybe this was it (and he just didn't give a very convincing excuse).

Millhouse7 · 12/03/2020 12:45

Wtf?! Madness

squirrelsbizaar · 12/03/2020 12:47

First shop worker is being ridiculous over alcohol, 2nd one in kiosk unless he’s literally just started the job What on Earth is he doing working on a counter selling age restricted products - cigarettes/ alcohol, if he can’t work out ages without checking with a manager.
Jeez, the manager of that place must either be a control freak of epic proportions that has his staff terrified to make a decision, or there are a lot of dense people working in that store.

PeterPanGoesWrong · 12/03/2020 12:52

I was at the supermarket with my then teenage daughter and her best friend and was refused the wine in my trolly, because and I do quote “you might be buying it for them!”
I walked out leaving a trolly full of groceries and have never returned. My teenage daughter is now in her 30’s. I think it’s ridiculous that supermarkets will serve one family but then take exception at another parent. It’s not illegal to buy booze if your a parent, never has been.
As for you calling him a “jobsworth” that was cruel, he has to be on the ball, but he certainly is stupid if he couldn’t work out that 2002 was 18 years ago, so any date before 2002 means you are over 18!

Hopoindown31 · 12/03/2020 13:17

Common sense is a rare commodity.

The cashier at the checkout was being deliberately difficult to refuse an alcohol sale to an adult with id with small children. I would have called for the manager at that point.

The kiosk cashier wad incompetent. You probably shouldn't have lost your temper and walked out rather than seen a complaint through, but there are worse things than being called a jobsworth.

DieSchottin93 · 12/03/2020 13:50

When I failed a test purchase (set by head office, not Trading Standards) they advised me to "Think 30" for age restricted products. Which I thought was ridiculous but if that's the sort of thing people are telling their employees you can't blame the employees for being very OTT when it comes to age restricted sales.

Reginabambina · 12/03/2020 13:54

Yeah, if you’re 90’s then that ridiculous. But equally sone people are really truly terrible with numbers. Even so, if he was that hopeless it makes you wonder why he bothered asking you at all instead of just asking that you wait for his manager.