DS, 11, refused entry to Co-op as under 18

[winterrabbit]

DS, 11 years, has just been refused entry to a local Co-Op store. The security guard told him that he is not allowed in as he is under 18 and they have alcohol for sale. I was picking DS up from the station and actually back to ask them about this "policy" and was told the same story which sounds like a load of rubbish to me. I didn't challenge them further other than to say I had never heard of such a rule and that DS would have to show ID to buy alcohol anyway, as I wanted to check my facts first. Does anyone know if this is lawful? Smacks of age discrimination to me. Before anyone asks, DS is beautifully behaved and was going in to buy a chocolate bar.

Yeah I'd complain to the manager and Co op head office

Fine to say no groups of kids if you've got a thieving problem near a school but NOT fine just to say no kids at all

How appalling. I suspect this is some little local tyrant running his personal fiefdom, deciding that all kids must be shoplifters so they can't come in. It's disgusting discrimination and I would probably tweet and email Co-op head office to complain.

Never encountered that before. I could understand if they only sold booze but otherwise sounds a bit bonkers to me.

Sounds like a manager overstepping his mark. Dd bought her cooking ingredients on the way to school often.

I agree that it's wrong and stopping a single pre teen from entering a shop is ridiculous.
However a brief look on citizen advice seems to imply that age discrimination doesnt protect people under the age of 18.

How ridiculous. What if you were ill, and needed a teenage child to get the shopping?

I can't believe this is company policy.

Whaaat? Under 18s are allowed in shops that sell alcohol, they just can't buy it. Most supermarkets would be in dire straights if they didn't let minors in. Some places near secondary schools have a policy if no more than two unaccompanied school children at a tone, but that's nothing to do with alcohol, it's about theft and behaviour.

My son regularly runs into the co op for me as do many children as it’s opposite a school here. My son has just turned 12, many kids younger from the junior school go in on their own as well.

I have never heard such a crazy rule, maybe the store manager has made their own rule?

@LakieLady

How ridiculous. What if you were ill, and needed a teenage child to get the shopping?

I can't believe this is company policy.

Yep. Minor carers are a thing.

My 10yo goes to the Coop alone, or with her 8yo sister. The only issue is when they can't reach what they've gone for, when a member of staff gets it for them!

My kids are all under 18 and they go to our local co-op all the time! Definitely not company policy

I work in a Co-op and it's definitely not company policy. I would complain to head office about their tin pot dictator manager.

My husband is manager at a co-op and I just asked and he said this is definitely not company policy! Complain!

I've been sending my kids down to co-op for years and they've never been refused entry! How bloody ridiculous. Many kids go shopping for their parents at a young age, or even just to spend their pocket money.

Is he seriously saying kids aren't allowed in any shop that sells alcohol?

As a coop colleague I cant imagine how a store can do this. Do any stores actually have security guards? I work in a large coop and we don't have one. Did you speak to the store/duty manager? This is definitely not right.

I think the fact the local coop has a security guard says a lot!

But no - they shouldn't be refused based on selling alcohol by any law. But shops can refuse entry to anyone they want as can any service.

It will likely be a localised policy based on specific incidents of ASB. A Morrisons near me has a similar policy and, as a pp, it's not age discrimination under the equality act. The local police and head office were supportive of the ban at morrissions.

You went back and were told the same thing by the same security guard?! It’ll be interesting to see what the co-op say in response - that’s bonkers. Our local co-op is well used by the local kids - it keeps the local dentist in business.

My 13 year old went to The Co op on his way home from school today
It’s utter bollocks

I am a bit suspicious OP. Are there any other reasons why your DC might have been refused? My mixed race DC often get followed around supermarkets and have on a number of occasions had their shopping checked on leaving a store.

@JackieCollinshasnoauthority

It will likely be a localised policy based on specific incidents of ASB. A Morrisons near me has a similar policy and, as a pp, it's not age discrimination under the equality act. The local police and head office were supportive of the ban at morrissions.

This.

My old Londis used to be like this when I was at school. I think the rule was only two children at a time and the bags needed to be left outside. But not a million miles away from this I guess. All down to ASB and theft incidents.

So a 17 year old who lives independently with a child of their own can't go into the co op to buy formula for example?

Yeah right!

Would love to hear how they respond to your complaint op.

That doesn't sound right. I see unaccompanied under-18s in our local co-op often. Likewise in the one near my mother's.

It must be either a misunderstanding with the security guard or just a decision taken in isolation by your local manager.

The shop must have had a lot of problems if they need to employ a security guard.
I'd speak to the manager.