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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Refused Sourz in Asda

142 replies

Quickandeasy · 27/07/2023 18:40

I don’t regard myself as an unintelligent person but am struggling to understand the logic. I was in Asda earlier with my son and his gf (both 18) and noticed the Sourz on offer so put it in my basket.

I was then told that I couldn’t buy this as I was with two people who may be underage. Gf had her ID but my son had left his at home so therefore couldn’t prove he was 18. I was told as we were all together the possibility is I would share it with minors.

Surely based on this logic if a family with children (of any age under 18) wanted to buy alcohol they would be refused as they are with children who they could share it with?

Does this actually happen to others, in which case are you supposed to leave your children outside the shop or get them to hide in an aisle if you want to buy alcohol?

OP posts:
Littlemissprosecco · 27/07/2023 18:44

🤣🤣🤣
Thats ridiculous!

Randomnamehere · 27/07/2023 18:45

I've seen a middle aged man refused beer in Iceland because he had a teenage son with him.

Ridiculous imo. Even if he was going to share a beer with him (which is legal at home in the UK), it's as if Iceland checkout staff should be more in charge of parenting some random's kid.

Beneficialchampion2 · 27/07/2023 18:46

YABU

The shop is in their right to refuse service if they believe it is intended for someone under 18.

Why does your son not carry ID?

MyBrownEyedHandsomeBoy · 27/07/2023 18:47

Unfortunately that's right. Companies are being really scrutinised for following the challenge 25 policy, and this includes 'proxy purchases', if there is a possibility the item is for a "potential" minor and they can't provide ID then the sale has to be refused. Staff could face losing their job if you were a mystery shopper.
I know it's infuriating, I am 32 and I didn't have my ID recently for a bottle of wine, my DM took it off me and went to another cashier and the staff member serving me ran over to tell her colleague not to sell it. It pissed us off too, but I also work in a field which has to follow challenge 25 procedures rigorously, so I understand... but I still rolled my eyes a lot that day 🤣

Original poster
Quickandeasy · 27/07/2023 18:47

Littlemissprosecco · 27/07/2023 18:44

🤣🤣🤣
Thats ridiculous!

Glad I’m not the only one 😂, what was funnier I had the audacity to ask why (politely) and within 2 seconds a security guard was there in case the cashier needed ‘back up’.

lesson learned I’ll go to Sainsbury’s alone next time 🤣

OP posts:
Lostinplaces · 27/07/2023 18:48

It does happen. The cashier would be held personally responsible and could be prosecuted if you were buying it for an underage child.

tenbob · 27/07/2023 18:48

Tbf Sourz is a very teenage drink so it is going to look like you’re buying it for them rather than something to enjoy a glass of at home after a hard day at work..!

But these threads always go the same way… loads of people will tell you it’s a common sense failure and loads of people will tell you they work in retail and their employers have a policy of sacking or fines if anyone is caught selling booze to someone with a teenager with them so they won’t risk it

UndercoverCop · 27/07/2023 18:49

A bottle of wine might not have been questioned, a bottle of sourz is more likely to be for them than you

Sirzy · 27/07/2023 18:49

If they have reason to believe it will be given to someone under 18 then they are legally bound to refuse sale. It falls onto the cashier if they make an error and get caught.

Changethetoner · 27/07/2023 18:50

Encourage your son to carry his ID at all times, then this shouldn't happen again. Of course it was annoying for you, but the sales staff have to follow procedures, and if they don't they could get a huge fine and/or lose their jobs. Leave the teenagers outside and try another shop. (I'm assuming the Sourz was indeed for the teenagers).

PuttingDownRoots · 27/07/2023 18:51

At what age do they change from a child accompanying their parent to a teen you might buy fir?

Original poster
Quickandeasy · 27/07/2023 18:51

oh I see, it’s because I was with teenagers and not a much younger child presumably- in which case it’s ok if I’m a sufferer of Munchausen by proxy to then go home and hide alcohol in my child’s food and drink

OP posts:
Fallenangelofthenorth · 27/07/2023 18:52

It's never happened to me, but I have heard about this happening to others. I do agree it's ridiculous, but not sure if that comes from government or store policy

Superfood · 27/07/2023 18:52

It's probably because you were trying to buy a drink that no adult would touch.

Original poster
Quickandeasy · 27/07/2023 18:53

The Sourz was most definitely for me, I wasn’t planning on sharing it and gave no indication that I would be, I have therefore been judged on the fact that I had two teenagers with me. Ah well never mind, I’ll get over it 😊

OP posts:
Original poster
Quickandeasy · 27/07/2023 18:54

Superfood · 27/07/2023 18:52

It's probably because you were trying to buy a drink that no adult would touch.

Oh I really like it, they do cherry flavour which is my favourite

OP posts:
VisionsOfSplendour · 27/07/2023 18:54

You either don't go shopping very often or haven't read the thousands of other threads and media articles about this, how have you need seen sadface stories about people who dont understand the rules and also don't understand that all shops are different, assistants might behave differently at different times but what theyve done is perfectly legal and happens all the time

Mumof3premies · 27/07/2023 18:54

ive Been refused alcohol with my own id and my 12 year old with me because I don’t look how old my id says I am😂😂😂😂

SleepingStandingUp · 27/07/2023 18:55

Beneficialchampion2 · 27/07/2023 18:46

YABU

The shop is in their right to refuse service if they believe it is intended for someone under 18.

Why does your son not carry ID?

But by that logic, I can't grab a bottle of wine with the weekly shop if I'm with the 3 yos cos I might them some.

YukoandHiro · 27/07/2023 18:56

When I was 28 I got ID'd for a bottle of wine to take to a bbq at my now DH's aunt's house. I didn't have any photo ID with me so I passed it to DH who was 38 at the time, and they refused to sell it to him.

Frogmila · 27/07/2023 18:57

Superfood · 27/07/2023 18:52

It's probably because you were trying to buy a drink that no adult would touch.

All that said, didn't Nigella once do a cocktail on one of her programmes, with I think apple sourz and vodka, not sure what else? I seem to think it looked absolutely lethal!

krafttcheesy · 27/07/2023 18:57

Once i was in a supermarket and bumped into a guy from work. We were chatting in the check out queue and the woman wouldn't let be buy my bottle of wine because he (the work colleague I'd bumped into!!) didn’t have ID!

BarbaraofSeville · 27/07/2023 18:57

Surely based on this logic if a family with children (of any age under 18) wanted to buy alcohol they would be refused as they are with children who they could share it with

The irony being, that it's not actually illegal to give a child age 5 or over alcohol in their own home.

And going by their logic, even if someone doesn't have any DC with them, the law of averages states that most people in their 20s to 50s have children under 18 at home, so anyone of that age 'could' be buying alcohol with the intention of giving it to a child, so they shouldn't be allowed to buy it either.

After all, presence of said young person has no bearing on whether or not they're going to be given alcohol, especially as anyone who is illegally conspiring to supply alcohol to the underaged will have made sure that they're out of sight of the till operator.

The people going shopping with their adult DC in plain sight are not the ones they need to be targetting.

Original poster
Quickandeasy · 27/07/2023 18:58

VisionsOfSplendour · 27/07/2023 18:54

You either don't go shopping very often or haven't read the thousands of other threads and media articles about this, how have you need seen sadface stories about people who dont understand the rules and also don't understand that all shops are different, assistants might behave differently at different times but what theyve done is perfectly legal and happens all the time

oh that’s a bit rude.

OP posts:
HaveYouHeardOfARoadAtlas · 27/07/2023 18:59

SleepingStandingUp · 27/07/2023 18:55

But by that logic, I can't grab a bottle of wine with the weekly shop if I'm with the 3 yos cos I might them some.

Show quote history

Well I guess they’d say they don’t believe you’re planning to give the 3yo a bottle of wine. Which lets face it is more unlikely than giving someone who looks 17yo a bottle of Sourz.

this has been the case for years and years. I used to tell Dd to not come with me to the till if I had alcohol once she got to about 15yo.