Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Judged by Waitrose

429 replies

Prioryfodder · 26/01/2023 14:30

Waitrose would not let me buy alcohol because I was accompanied by my 15-year-old daughter. To explain, just before Christmas, I had bought a basket of groceries and two bottles of Malibu (actually destined for her older brothers Christmas stockings to make long island iced teas, but that's irrelevant IMO). She had briefly handled the bottles to put on the conveyor belt for me. We then waited some time for the cashier to clear. We were clearly together and frankly we are clearly mother and daughter. The cashier (rather smugly) said she would need ID from both of us to sell me the alcohol. I said I was 56 and she 15, but the alcohol was for me. She - and later her manager - asserted that we both had to be over 18, and to prove it. I asked if they would sell it to me if she left the shop. No. Would they sell it to me if she were 6-year-old? Yes, and I was ''not to be so silly'', said the cashier. My daughter feels she was judged as being an underaged drinker, and I feel judged to be a 'bad mother'. Vote: Yes, you are AIBU, you should never shop with your teenage child, you fool. YANBU, FFS at 56 you should be allowed to buy alcohol.
I am expecting a few cracks about buying Malibu and shopping at Waitrose. Please don't disappoint

OP posts:
UWhatNow · 26/01/2023 14:52

Your mistake is buying Malibu from Waitrose. Send your dd down to your local dodgy bargain beer place - not only do they have different flavours of that wonderful elixir of life, but it’ll be a fiver cheaper and they never ID.

Fragrantandfoolish · 26/01/2023 14:52

Maybe it was the fact it was Malibu, as it’s the kind of clueless drink a 15 year girl might drink . Think I drunk it at 15 😂

simbobs · 26/01/2023 14:55

It's called a proxy sale. I experienced this when shopping with my DS a few years ago. Mind you, the beer was for him... He was nearly 18.

FlounderingFruitcake · 26/01/2023 14:55

The law around not selling it to someone that might be buying on behalf of someone that is under age is so stupidly vague- is it ok to sell if the child is 6 but not 16? Because both can legally drink at home. Do we make a judgment call and say only if it’s only from the fine wine section because that’s what grown ups drink? I used to work in Waitrose and would have sold it to you, and I used to do the secret shopper for other branches and I had to purchase alcohol and report back on whether or not I was ID-ed, it didn’t make involve elaborate scenarios with a fake mum. That said, Malibu does not go in a LIT so maybe they saved you from yourself!

SenecaFallsRedux · 26/01/2023 14:56

I saw Hugh Grant on a chat show saying Malibu and pineapple is one of his favorite tipples. So I tried it; it's really good. I also tried it in egg nog this Christmas. Also really good.

I'm sorry, what was the question?

afinishedkiss · 26/01/2023 14:56

Redic.

Sabrinasouffle · 26/01/2023 14:57

SenecaFallsRedux · 26/01/2023 14:56

I saw Hugh Grant on a chat show saying Malibu and pineapple is one of his favorite tipples. So I tried it; it's really good. I also tried it in egg nog this Christmas. Also really good.

I'm sorry, what was the question?

This is why I wish there was a “Like” button on MN (misses point..)

Rugbyfield · 26/01/2023 15:00

There’s no Malibu in a Long Island iced tea.

Shops have been doing this for years, if I want to buy alcohol with under aged teens they don’t stand at the checkout with me.

MaverickGooseGoose · 26/01/2023 15:01

Normal and since when does Malibu Go in a Long Island iced tea?

Slowingdownagain · 26/01/2023 15:01

It's a stupid rule, but I've heard about it before.

YABU and a bit ridiculous to feel they judged you as a bad mother/ underaged drinker.

Johnnysgirl · 26/01/2023 15:04

You weren't judged. You were told the rules applied to you as well as everybody else.

SusanPerbCallMeSue · 26/01/2023 15:07

I ask my teens (and my 20 yo who doesn't have ID) to go and wait for me outside if I'm buying alcohol. I know there's a risk that I won't be able to buy it if they're with me, so as I go to queue they leave.

NImumconfused · 26/01/2023 15:12

I have genuinely never heard of this before - will have to remember not to take my teenagers with me when I'm topping up the gin!

ColadhSamh · 26/01/2023 15:12

You and your daughter are frankly being incredibly dramatic about the 'smug' cashier asking for ID. The cashier was correct especially as your daughter handled the alcohol. Why should anyone risk breaking the law, losing their job, risk a fine for their employer just because you are not aware of the law in relation to the sale of alcohol. Good for the cashier and the manager for supporting. Too often managers hang their staff out to dry because a customer complains or is questioning. Well done Waitrose.

ARoughRide · 26/01/2023 15:13

piglet81 · 26/01/2023 14:38

Why are you putting Malibu in a Long Island iced tea?

/wilfully misses point of thread

This was my first thought too!

Autumnnewname · 26/01/2023 15:16

afinishedkiss · 26/01/2023 14:56

Redic.

Is that a cocktail?

Userchange · 26/01/2023 15:17

This thread made me remember that I haven't drunk a long island ice tea for 2 decades! I used to like that drink.

And what they said.

DomesticShortHair · 26/01/2023 15:20

neverknowinglyunreasonable · 26/01/2023 14:36

Try Mallyboo from Aldi, they'll sell it to anyone*

*I made the whole thing up. Please don't sue me Aldi.

Aldi doesn’t sue anyone. They zue them.

Spring23 · 26/01/2023 15:20

Seems ridiculous - but good to know to send the teens away before paying!

Polarbearyfairy · 26/01/2023 15:22

I used to love a Malibu and pineapple, bit sweet for me now tho, and I am enjoying how this thread is being derailed.

Malibu has no place in a Long Island ice tea.

turkeyboots · 26/01/2023 15:23

I had that in Sainsburys once, when I had 2 under 5 sitting in the trolley.

I was too shocked and sleep deprived to complain on the spot.

PeekAtYou · 26/01/2023 15:26

This is normal. Iirc it's a criminal record and fine for Waitrose if the cashier gets it wrong.

SiobhanSharpe · 26/01/2023 15:28

Polarbearyfairy · 26/01/2023 15:22

I used to love a Malibu and pineapple, bit sweet for me now tho, and I am enjoying how this thread is being derailed.

Malibu has no place in a Long Island ice tea.

The problem of Malibu being too sweet is easily remedied by adding an extra slug or three of alcohol. Rum, for preference.
(Baileys is similarly improved by adding more Scotch)

chevvyroo · 26/01/2023 15:29

That's ridiculous. If you were not her mum but her accomplice instead, you would have just come back without her to buy it.

BTW, there is definitely NO Malibu in a Long Island Iced tea!

RedHelenB · 26/01/2023 15:31

Fragrantandfoolish · 26/01/2023 14:52

Maybe it was the fact it was Malibu, as it’s the kind of clueless drink a 15 year girl might drink . Think I drunk it at 15 😂

More the fact that dd put the item on the conveyer belt I'd imagine.