Refused booze in tesco again

Bamber19

Helix wrote: »

Legally they can but most stores have a policy that managers won't over-rule a checkout operators judgement even if they feel it is wrong.

Sainsbury's are apparently looking to review their implimentation of the Think 25 policy (Reading between the lines on their discussion site it's because many of their staff can't seem to grasp that their own policy is to make a reasonable decision on groups or adults with teenagers/children and that in reality a 14 year old with their parents doesn't need ID for the parents to buy a few beers.)

That whole element of the policy is a farce, it's only purpose is to make the company look good, that they're caring about the local community, it's nothing to do with protecting their staff as at that point the danger of prosecution (for selling alcohol to an adult standing near to a child) is null. All it actually does is angers people who the staff 100% believe to be well over 18 but wont sell alcohol to them.

Helix

Bamber19 wrote: »

Sainsbury's are apparently looking to review their implimentation of the Think 25 policy (Reading between the lines on their discussion site it's because many of their staff can't seem to grasp that their own policy is to make a reasonable decision on groups or adults with teenagers/children and that in reality a 14 year old with their parents doesn't need ID for the parents to buy a few beers.)

That whole element of the policy is a farce, it's only purpose is to make the company look good, that they're caring about the local community, it's nothing to do with protecting their staff as at that point the danger of prosecution (for selling alcohol to an adult standing near to a child) is null. All it actually does is angers people who the staff 100% believe to be well over 18 but wont sell alcohol to them.

I must admit that when I was at Sainsburys they were pretty clear that we needed to make sure we implemented Think 25 without annoying all the customers.

So they only time we ever needed to ask for ID for multiple people was when they were both around the same age and under 25. So if there was someone you thought looked 20 and someone that looked 19 you ID'd them both. If you had someone that looked 20 with someone that looked 10 then you only ID'd the person that looked 20 and if they had ID it was fine.

I have heard that since I left a year ago that they now do Think 25 checks where the store gets a company to send in people that are over 18 but under 25 to ensure you ID them. When I was there is was only the usual Trading Standards checks that happened - although I believe Camelot sent in people over 16 but under 21 to buy lottery tickets to ensure they got ID'd. Which is why I laugh when people come on here and complain about being ID'd for a lottery ticket when they are 18 - they do it so the store doesn't lose their machine.

Fruitcake

Chimpofdoom wrote: »

You tend to find regardless of your age in the US, you will be ID'd for buying alcohol.

I was in Texas a few years back, an elderly gent (70's) in front of me handed his driving licence over and then his sale went through.

A colleague of mind had advised me to take my driving licence/passport anywhere in case I'm purchasing alcohol and right enough.. everytime I bought alcohol I was asked for ID.

Similar story in Florida and New York.

It depends entirely on the State you are visiting. Some, for example Tennessee, require ID irrespective of age, so you can't buy alcohol no matter how old you are without it. Other States, for example Ohio, do not require ID unless the seller thinks you may be under 21.

All this is irrelevant to the original post which was about someone over the age of 18 being refused the sale of alcohol at a Tesco store.

oldone_2

Helix wrote: »

So they only time we ever needed to ask for ID for multiple people was when they were both around the same age and under 25.

The problem I have with this is that the legal age for alcohol purchase is 18, and not 25.

O.K Sainsbury's can sell or refuse to sell alcohol to whoever they choose.

It does appear that Supermarkets are attempting to rewrite the licensing laws, and that is unacceptable.

GillsMan7

oldone wrote: »

The problem I have with this is that the legal age for alcohol purchase is 18, and not 25.

O.K Sainsbury's can sell or refuse to sell alcohol to whoever they choose.

It does appear that Supermarkets are attempting to rewrite the licensing laws, and that is unacceptable.

No they aren't. They are, quite rightly IMO, pointing out that you can often have 17 year olds who look a bit older than what they are. You can look at a person who looks in their mid twenties but might be under 18. So it is sensible to say that if they look under 25 they'll be ID'd.

adouglasmhor

GillsMan7 wrote: »

No they aren't. They are, quite rightly IMO, pointing out that you can often have 17 year olds who look a bit older than what they are. You can look at a person who looks in their mid twenties but might be under 18. So it is sensible to say that if they look under 25 they'll be ID'd.

But it's not sensible if they look 44 but have a 19 year old in tow with no id they are refused service.

JimmyTheWig

adouglasmhor wrote: »

But it's not sensible if they look 44 but have a 19 year old in tow with no id they are refused service.

But neither would it be sensible if it were a 17 year old rather than a 19 year old.

fatou256 wrote: »

although i do undersrtand your frustration but i must add that i used to work in retail and i have see many mother buying booze for their kid as young as ten and when we refusedd ot serve them oh boy the abuse we received wwas unbelievable !

I know this is an old quote, but I think it illustrates the point completely. While I don't disagree that parents buy alcohol for their children, I doubt very much that they buy it for them to drink there and then.
So you might just as well introduce a rule that says adults of "parent" age can't buy alcohol as they may give it to their children.

oldone_2

GillsMan7 wrote: »

No they aren't. They are, quite rightly IMO, pointing out that you can often have 17 year olds who look a bit older than what they are. You can look at a person who looks in their mid twenties but might be under 18. So it is sensible to say that if they look under 25 they'll be ID'd.

So why are some supermarkets now introducing a 'Think 30' policy.

If supermarkets are really concerned about underage binge drinking, they should stop selling alcohol at a loss.

WhiteHorse

oldone wrote: »

If supermarkets are really concerned about underage binge drinking, they should stop selling alcohol at a loss.

Perfect answer.

King_Nothing

Whenever me and the gf go shopping, it's only the one who's paying is Id'd, if ever.