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Original poster

To think Morrisons are taking licensing laws too far?

93 replies

Housemum · 12/02/2010 19:09

So DH offers to pick up teenage DD from dancing as he's going past that way and stops off at Morrisons to buy tonight's dinner and a couple of bottles of beer. Cashier asks him for ID which flattered him for a second as he's 40 with grey hair, till the cashier says, "no, for her". No replies DH as she's too young and the beer is for me - so the cashier refuses to serve him. Now I am all for stopping teenage binge drinking, but I thought the law was about believing someone had intent to supply to a minor - so if he was buying alcopops, cider or even possibly white wine I could understand but looking at the two of them it would be pretty easy to spot the likely real ale drinker! Grrr - anyone else want to share their tales of refusal or tell me that Morrisons are completely justified?

OP posts:
LazyJourno · 12/02/2010 23:04

Actually I don't think it is an offense to sell alcohol to someone over 18 if you believe they may give it to someone under 18.

It is an offense for the person buying it to give it to someone underage but I'm not sure it's a supermarket's place to police that really.

This is a summary of the law.

onagar · 12/02/2010 23:19

What happens if the supermarket delivers alcohol (I assume they do). Do all the kids have to leave the house and wait around the corner?

annh · 12/02/2010 23:26

I have wondered aloud on here before about online shopping. Tesco will be delivering tomorrow, I expect it's just a matter of time before they refuse to leave DH's beer because my 8 yr old is "helping" me to unpack.

Having said that, I bought some beer this evening in Waitrose and DS put it on the conveyor belt. The assistant jokingly said to him - are you going to drink all of that tonight? They are obviously taking a more lenient approach there!

ToccataAndFudge · 12/02/2010 23:28

this is something I'm dreading as my DS's head towards double figures.

How the f*ck are us single mum's supposed to stay sane if we can't buy a box bottle of wine when we go shopping with the kids

LazyJourno · 12/02/2010 23:36

No problem with online shopping because it is no problem. There are just a few fuckwits working in the supermarkets who are a bit... keen.

Just start quoting choice paragraphs from the 2003 Licensing Act to get them going.

LazyJourno · 12/02/2010 23:36

No problem with online shopping because it is no problem. There are just a few fuckwits working in the supermarkets who are a bit... keen.

Just start quoting choice paragraphs from the 2003 Licensing Act to get them going.

LazyJourno · 12/02/2010 23:36

Oops. Sorry for double post.

Not been drinking honest!

Original poster
Housemum · 13/02/2010 00:00

Glad to know that no one else seems to back up the dopey cashier! DH had to get back so he didn't have time to complain then but will be writing to the manager. Will stick to Sainsbo's in future - DD1 actually works there so we won't have a problem!

OP posts:
Heracles · 13/02/2010 02:07

Well, other than the fact your daughter works in a supermarket.

I joke, I JOKE!!

charlotteolivia · 13/02/2010 03:16

you're not suppose to serve friends/family in a supermarket you work in housemum- in case you get stuff for free etc etc

JaneS · 13/02/2010 11:39

My DP and I got caught on this one in Waitrose , buying quite a lot of stuff including a bottle of that well-known teenage vice, Calvados. I had no ID and DP was told he couldn't buy the alcohol 'in case he was giving it to me'. The fact that I was carrying a PhD student card (no DOB on it so they can't accept it), AND SHOPPING IN BLOODY WAITROSE did nothing to convince them I might be a wee bit over 18.

Eventually the supervisor said it was ok, I was carrying car keys so must be legal! Which is nuts because you can own a car from 17, can't you?

PuppyMonkey · 13/02/2010 11:44

Crikey, haven't taken the dds shopping for ages, but it would never occur to me to NOT get a bottle of wine or two doing the weekly shop if I had them with me... thanks for the advance warning...

WhiteRoses · 13/02/2010 12:08

I was in Tesco with my sister (14) and tried to buy a bottle of good malt whiskey, a bottle gift bag, and a "Dad" birthday card. They refused to sell me the whiskey because I was with my sister. Ridiculous.

Another time, I was in Asda with my husband. We had a trolley load of shopping, including a bottle of wine. As I didn't have my handbag on me, and no form of ID, they refused to sell us the wine. (DH had already proved his age.)

ANOTHER time, (and I think this is the worst!), I was with my mum in Tesco. She was buying weedkiller. Because I looked younger than 25, we were both asked for ID. I produced mine; no problem. She didn't have any. They refused to sell her the weedkiller. She's 50-odd!

Who was it that said "the law's an ass"?!

nighbynight · 13/02/2010 12:23

Thank god things havent got this crazy in germany yet.

MadameDefarge · 13/02/2010 13:04

I have just done my licensing exams and I can categorically state that it is not the law to refuse to serve someone in a supermarket if they are over 18 and can prove it, regardless of whether they are surrounded by under age people. You can however refuse to sell alcohol to anyone if you don't want to for whatever reason.

However as a licensee you have to support the licensing objectives, which include reducing crime and disorder, preventing public nuisance and child protection, so if you suspect that the 18 year old is buying alcopops for the group of teenagers hanging around the door, it would be wise not to serve them, simply to support the objectives.

This is down to poor training on the part of the supermarkets.

GoldenSnitch · 13/02/2010 13:28

I got asked for ID when buying Ginger Ale in Waitrose once!! While shopping with my 6 months old DS!

Apparently, the cashier couldn't keep up with all these "new alcopops"

GoldenSnitch · 13/02/2010 13:30

Ha! Just found this on Wikipedia "The drink came from Eastern Europe, where it has been known for centuries"

Not so well known in Milton Keynes Waitrose it seems

Trikken · 13/02/2010 13:39

I myself once id'd someone when they were buying Ginger Beer. Id never seen it before and thought it was alcohol and it was my first day on the job. the manager had a laugh when they came down (I was only 16, so had to call manager to confirm id.)

GoldenSnitch · 13/02/2010 13:47

This woman had to have been in her 40's though!

I'd have forgiven a teenager for never having seen it.

MrsChemist · 13/02/2010 13:54

Oddly enough, I didn't get ID'ed in Morrisons today.
I look about 18 (I'm in my 20s). The pram must somehow add years.

Tinuviel · 13/02/2010 14:23

Shopping with my 19 year old nephew in USA last year, he wouldn't even pick up the beer and put it in the trolley; nor would he scan the wine through the self-service check-out, because he knew he wasn't allowed!! He did drink some of it when we got home though!!

Back here I have often bought alcohol while my DCs have been with me - DS1 (12) has even scanned a bottle through self-service in Morrisons. I must look very old and responsible as I have never been IDed . And no one who knows me would call me 'responsible'!!

mankymooandsqualfie · 13/02/2010 15:25

I don't understand why so many of you have a problem with being asked for ID when you are carring it.

Why should a cashier risk their job and have the possibility of going to court and receiving a huge fine (not easy to pay when you no longer have a job) if they were to be caught out on a Trading Standards test purhase just because shoppers find it too much trouble to show their driving licence etc?

EdgarAllenSnow · 13/02/2010 15:35

the problem is that many of these people, even iwtih ID are still not getting served cos their dcs are with them.

ToccataAndFudge · 13/02/2010 15:47

well I haven't be ID'd in a while.

But I'd be screwed if they did ask me.......I don't drive and don't intend to carry my passport around with me.

And at nearly 31 I'll be damned if I'm going to get an ID card just so they can "task 25" me when I bottle of wine.........

mankymooandsqualfie · 13/02/2010 15:47

Sadly that is taking it too the extreme, however if a teenager is helping to choose or carry the alcohol then staff are instructed not to serve them.