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AIBU?

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Original poster

Alcohol policy at Harvester

53 replies

houselikeashed · 29/05/2021 12:06

I had no idea the alcohol limit at Harvester restaurants is 25! We took our DC (age 19 and 16) for a meal last night and DC1 was refused a beer. I can't find this advertised anywhere on the website. They said it is a common thing in restaurants now.

Is it? Have I missed something?

OP posts:
TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 29/05/2021 13:14

Any picture ID will do, I believe that the Queen uses one of her Coronation Mugs.

sapnupuas · 29/05/2021 13:25

I'm honestly astounded that you r never heard of the Challenge 25 policy. It's literally everywhere and has been for years.

Eilethya · 29/05/2021 13:31

@Babbly

It's not. Legally, they aren't allowed to refuse alcohol to people who are under 25 but over 18 because that's age discrimination and is a violation of the Equality Act 2010. Their policy is to request ID from anyone who looks under 25 to check that they're over 18.
Do you have a source for this please? There are many pubs that have an over 21 policy and as they are private establishments can refuse to serve anybody they like. They could have an over 60s policy if they decided to.
Bluntness100 · 29/05/2021 13:36

@sapnupuas

I'm honestly astounded that you r never heard of the Challenge 25 policy. It's literally everywhere and has been for years.
I know. It’s like saying “the bbc , what’s that I’ve never heard of it”
NicknamesAreLikeKleenex · 29/05/2021 13:41

Actually Elithya, a pub or nightclub’s over 21s policy is prima facie illegal because it does constitute discrimination on the basis of a protected characteristic, just as it would if they operated a more obviously unacceptable policy.

However the act allows room for them to justify it on the basis of action to achieve a proportionate aim (a more civilised environment presumably) and the fact that so many places have such a policy demonstrates that the bar for “proportionate” in this case is set pretty low.

NicknamesAreLikeKleenex · 29/05/2021 13:43

It’s an interesting point that a person born in the year 2002 (like one of my DC) could pretty easily have got to the age of 18 without Challenge 25 really impinging because there have been so few opportunities to go down the pub.

NicknamesAreLikeKleenex · 29/05/2021 13:44

*got to the age of 19

SamanthaChumbaMumba · 29/05/2021 13:46

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Eilethya · 29/05/2021 14:03

@NicknamesAreLikeKleenex

Actually Elithya, a pub or nightclub’s over 21s policy is prima facie illegal because it does constitute discrimination on the basis of a protected characteristic, just as it would if they operated a more obviously unacceptable policy.

However the act allows room for them to justify it on the basis of action to achieve a proportionate aim (a more civilised environment presumably) and the fact that so many places have such a policy demonstrates that the bar for “proportionate” in this case is set pretty low.

Wish I knew this when I was 20 and dying to get in the local nightclub!
Rosebanks · 29/05/2021 14:09

Technically the 16 year old could have had a drink as well provided you bought it, as they were having a meal and accompanied by an adult. They wouldn't be able to buy an alcoholic drink themselves though.

RickiTarr · 29/05/2021 14:11

From the look of the vote, OP isn’t the only one who doesn’t understand the law and/or believes the law is “Harvester policy” Smile.

MmeLaraque · 29/05/2021 14:25

DH and I were asked for ID pre-covid when we bought wine in a supermarket. He was already 50, and that was the second time he'd been asked for ID in recent years. He thought it was hilarious, and the lady on the Customer Service counter (known her for years) came to see what the hilarity was about. The over-25 policy is a thing, and has been for years.

Icanflyhigh · 29/05/2021 14:28

I had to show ID to buy cigarettes last week!! I'm 42 - it made my week!!

SnackSizeRaisin · 29/05/2021 14:36

Surely they could both have a drink without ID as long as it's bought for them by an adult and they are eating a meal. Sounds like an over zealous staff member to me.

RickiTarr · 29/05/2021 14:58

@SnackSizeRaisin

Surely they could both have a drink without ID as long as it's bought for them by an adult and they are eating a meal. Sounds like an over zealous staff member to me.
Observing the licensing law isn’t “over zealous”. The fine is four figures PERSONALLY for any staff member caught breaking the law. Plus a fine for establishment. It’s drummed into the staff bit to risk it, and why would they want to on minimum wage?
TheMNChicken · 29/05/2021 15:02

"Surely they could both have a drink without ID as long as it's bought for them by an adult and they are eating a meal. Sounds like an over zealous staff member to me"

Really?

sweeneytoddsrazor · 29/05/2021 15:08

@SnackSizeRaisin

Buying alcohol for an underage person is classed as a proxy sale and the staff member would face the same discipline as selling it directly to an underage person. So yes they still need I.D even if they could legally drink it. This is why its challenge 25 not challenge 18. Far to easy for a 15 year old girl to slap on some make up and pass as 18, like wise plenty of 15 year old lads are able to grow a face full of hair and pass as 18.

PabloSlow · 29/05/2021 15:09

Technically the 16 year old could have had a drink as well provided you bought it, as they were having a meal and accompanied by an adult. They wouldn't be able to buy an alcoholic drink themselves though.

I was coming to say exactly this.

CherryCherries · 29/05/2021 15:16

How times have changed..

When I was 15, so year 2000, I went to a Harvester with 3 friends who were also 15. We had a meal along with half pints of beer which they served us with no question! We didn't even look much older for our age. We then went to the bar next door and got rather drunk on more beer..

mummydoris2006 · 29/05/2021 15:22

In our town now many pubs have changed to serve 25's and overs only. Nothing to do with challenge 25 and having ID.

NotDavidTennant · 29/05/2021 15:33

From the look of the vote, OP isn’t the only one who doesn’t understand the law and/or believes the law is “Harvester policy”

Challenge 25 isn't the law. It is a voluntary policy, albeit one that is used very widely amongst pubs and retailers.

RickiTarr · 29/05/2021 15:38

@NotDavidTennant

From the look of the vote, OP isn’t the only one who doesn’t understand the law and/or believes the law is “Harvester policy”

Challenge 25 isn't the law. It is a voluntary policy, albeit one that is used very widely amongst pubs and retailers.

Well challenge 25 is industry code and the licensing laws are law, so I suppose it’s a combination.
VeganVeal · 29/05/2021 16:04

I'd be more worried if my 19 DC couldn't go an evening without a drink, do he have a problem around drink?

Thewinterofdiscontent · 29/05/2021 16:34

@Rosebanks

Technically the 16 year old could have had a drink as well provided you bought it, as they were having a meal and accompanied by an adult. They wouldn't be able to buy an alcoholic drink themselves though.
This.
Thewinterofdiscontent · 29/05/2021 16:39

@sweeneytoddsrazor
The actual law for alcohol with a meal is different though.Maybe it’s not Harvester policy but neither the Op or the restaurant are breaking the law.

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