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.

www.theguardian.com/society/2009/mar/29/young-equals-equality-bill

www.crae.org.uk/media/26392/Making-the-Case-FINAL.pdf

It's ridiculous, take it on social media.

Apparently children aren’t protected proper by the equality act?! I suppose they are not actually people in the eyes of the government due to not paying taxes? Or how do they justify this.

@dworky

It's ridiculous, take it on social media.

Definitely, tweet the Co-op or FB them.

bit peculiar for an organisation that claims to be so community minded?
www.coop.co.uk/communities

mention the discrepancy when you complain

Several local supermarkets near me (central London) have security guards, not just the co-op. Waitrose is the only one I can think of that doesn't - and they normally have a store assistant by each door.

Address the tweet to some papers or journalists too

They probably have problems with anti social behaviour hence the security guard. Some places won't let in under 16s without a parent because the are sick and tired of the behaviour of ( a small minority) of youths

@CJay81

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.

All the coops near me have security guards

I would speak to the manager before going all guns blazing on social media and the papers.

There is likely a reason why under 18’s aren’t permitted in that particular co-op, I would attempt to establish what that is first.

You can just ID them at the till. You don't need to refuse entry .

If they don't trust the till staff to fulfil their think.21/25 duty then they need to train them better

Our local Coop always seems to be a teenage hangout hotspot. The 'we sell alcohol' line is total bullshit - it's not a fucking nightclub! The idea that no one under 18 can go in a supermarket because they sell alcohol is ludicrous. That security guard sounds like an arse. If it's because of behaviour then why say it's because they sell alcohol. Make sure you complain on their social media OP.

It's not Bakewell is it?
We had a right hoo ha in there with dd last summer.

@AlternativePerspective

I would speak to the manager before going all guns blazing on social media and the papers.

There is likely a reason why under 18’s aren’t permitted in that particular co-op, I would attempt to establish what that is first.

There's no need to establish anything, the security guard already told him why - because they sell alcohol - and it's bullshit. I have never known a supermarket not let a child in, most of my son's school go and buy their lunch at the nearest one - and it definitely sells alcohol.

When I worked in a supermarket, we were trained to Challenge 21 any one who was even down an alcohol aisle. And teens and kids without adults were to be moved on, even if they were clearly not browsing but just passing through. So if it was a small coop maybe they've just applied that to the whole shop. I've never heard of that though. They also might have just had a lot of issues with kids so are being cautious. Unfair on non trouble making kids though.

Co-op have form for misunderstanding the rules. They wouldn’t allow my DD to buy a pritt stick because it’s glue

How can we expect kids to be okay leaving their house as adults if they have never even been to their local shop before 18? That’s absolute madness.

Also, if you live in Lincoln, the coops are not part of the national coop franchise or scheme even though they have the same branding. So they might have different rules.

It does sound like they're just being difficult though.

There was someone saying on another thread that she boycotts her local Coop because the security guard won't let her check ingredients on items (she has an allergy). I wonder if it's the same person?

On the one hand I wouldn't let a security guard tell me what I can and can't do in the store; on the other hand there are other shops and I'll spend my money elsewhere.

I would complain as it sounds like there is a problem with the Coop's training/recruitment of security guards.

I know small shops that say no more than 2-3 kids at a time, but they are unaccompanied and in groups and the shop is independent so they can do what they like. A kid with their parent in a chain? Complete nonsense.

@Georgeskitchen

They probably have problems with anti social behaviour hence the security guard. Some places won't let in under 16s without a parent because the are sick and tired of the behaviour of ( a small minority) of youths

That's a different issue though. This is someone with their parent and they are being told it's because of alcohol which is clearly a nonsense.

@DoorWasAJar

Apparently children aren’t protected proper by the equality act?! I suppose they are not actually people in the eyes of the government due to not paying taxes? Or how do they justify this.

That's right - that's how B&Bs and the like can refuse to accept children. The Equality Act only applies to the over 18s in relation to age discrimination.

Tweet them

Where do you live that the Co-Op has a doorman?!

@Georgeskitchen

They probably have problems with anti social behaviour hence the security guard. Some places won't let in under 16s without a parent because the are sick and tired of the behaviour of ( a small minority) of youths

When I worked in a shop years ago we got around this by saying two at a time.

One child by themselves is hardly going to be a massive problem.

That seems strange, under 18s are allowed in here alone. Obviously not allowed to buy alcohol but fine to enter for food / soft drinks etc.

They are being targeted here now so security guards are appearing though why someone would think a lone 11 year old would be a threat is beyond me. Maybe ask to speak to the manager and see why this rule has been set.