Sainsbury's checking IDs

Northern_girl_2

What I find funny is that I was never asked for ID when I was underage but everything has tightened up so much that now I'm 26 I've been asked a few times. I don't like carrying my passport around either so it can be frustrating - I do wonder if it will be used as a way of encouraging us to carry ID cards in the future.

The most ridiculous examples I've heard are:
- my 60 year old dad being refused because my 24 year old brother was with him and he might be buying the drinks for him. My dad pointed out they would be drinking at home so even if my brother was 5 he still wouldn't be breaking the law.

- a 31 year old friend refused because his 6 year old daughter was with him. The shop assisstant asked for his daughters ID!!! Erm, no she doesn't have any because she is 6 and won't be drinking this vodka.

Finefoot

Well, my experience was such - I went shopping , with my son who has to push the (always wonky) trolley for me as i had hurt my back. I was asked for ID, produced it, and was then refused the alcohol purchase as my son, who had no ID was with me!!! I was staggered. I understand their selling to minors policy, but sheesh! I was doing a huge shop, and explained he was there to help me.
Common sense did not prevail, and i had to leave the whole lot behind, missing out on my bargains and vouchers.
I now shop online elsewhere. no questions asked there. no lifting required..

heatheryone_2

Northern_girl wrote: »

What I find funny is that I was never asked for ID when I was underage but everything has tightened up so much that now I'm 26 I've been asked a few times. I don't like carrying my passport around either so it can be frustrating - I do wonder if it will be used as a way of encouraging us to carry ID cards in the future.

I agree with this. I was able to get served in pubs, bars and clubs from the age of 16 and was never IDed - I was only ever knocked back once when underage and that was an off-licence. I didn't start carrying ID until I was 20 and suddenly supermarkets, pubs and clubs became strict about proof of age. I'm 22 (23 in January ) and look younger, but even now, I'm always IDed in the supermarket, but only about 25% of the time in pubs/bars - I wonder why, assuming that the punishment for selling to someone underage is the same for a pub as for a supermarket?

I'm not sure the government is clever enough to have applied this pressure in a deliberate attempt to normalise carrying ID amongst the young, but that's certainly been the effect, and it's interesting that when ID cards were trialled in Manchester, they were promoted as being especially useful for young people wanting to prove their age.

jaffacakes82

It really does annoy me when people moan about being asked for ID. The people you're buying alcohol from are ONLY DOING THEIR JOBS. They're not trying to ruin your day, it's part of their job. Rules have become a lot stricter in the past few years as well, and regardless of whether you think you look your age of 20 something, it doesn't mean somebody else will.

Mystery shoppers are sent in to test that shops are sticking by the rules. If they're caught out selling alcohol to somebody under age they will be fined a hell of a lot of money and the blame falls on the person at the till, not the company.

Take a minute to think of the check out people, when I worked in a supermarket you would be verbally abused by some people when you asked for ID, and not just those who were clearly about 15. Thankfully though, most people were calm and nice about it and just showed their ID.

It's not hard to obtain official ID, so just keep ID on you when buying alcohol and stop bl**dy moaning about it.

Nukumai

In the case of Tesco, this moronic "policy" is almost certainly a knee-jerk response to the police looking to have the liquor licences of some branches - quite rightly - revoked where there were repeat instances of selling to underage drinkers.

Case in point...here is the summary from a Sussex Police (Crime Prevention) Officer of Tesco's historical attitude (and, probably, a reason for the ridiculous policies now in place) :

"My personal thoughts are that if Tesco put as much emphasis on training to prevent underage sales as they do on training on the Clubcard then we would be able to prevent underage sales."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/southern_counties/6232591.stm

But, rather than address the training of employees in this area in an appropriate and proportionate manner, Tesco adopts a blanket policy of overkill, which not only treats customers as potential criminals, but is also, in my opinion, suggestive of a measure of contempt that Tesco must hold for the intelligence and common-sense of its own customer-facing staff.

Northern_girl_2

jaffacakes82 wrote: »

It's not hard to obtain official ID, so just keep ID on you when buying alcohol and stop bl**dy moaning about it.

I understand why shop assisstants ask so I am always polite to them. However, I do think that the crack down on underage drinking as got to a point where we are de facto forced to carry ID.

Yes it is easy to get hold of but I like to keep my pasport safe because it is expensive to replace and easy to commit identity theft if someone got hold of it.

A driving license would be easier to carry but I don't drive so I'm not prepared to pay for it.

If the govenrment had support to make us all carry ID cards they would do it. They don't, so I think this is a back door way of 'forcing' young people to get used to the idea of carrying ID. As another poster has commented this was promoted as a +ve of the scheme when trialled in Manchester.

Nukumai

heatheryone wrote: »

I'm not sure the government is clever enough to have applied this pressure in a deliberate attempt to normalise carrying ID amongst the young, but that's certainly been the effect, and it's interesting that when ID cards were trialled in Manchester, they were promoted as being especially useful for young people wanting to prove their age.

An interesting comment. Whilst I doubt the government is "clever enough", I am sure it would approve most heartily of any measure that exerts further control over the citizenry...sheep that we have become.

Glitzkiss

The government must be rubbing their hands in glee at the consequences and lack of common sense resulting from this Think 25 policy. There will be less resistance to their ID cards as people will decide it's easier to have one of those than carry their passport or both parts of their driving licence around.

Just a reminder though. The Licensing Act of 2003 states that alcohol cannot be sold to anyone under 18. The minimum age is not 25 it is 18 and whilst I understand the reason behind the Think 25 policy I think it is overkill and should have remained at 21. Moreover the stupidity of some stores to refuse to sell adults alcohol just because they have children with them while they are shopping just shows how little we use our common sense in this country :rolleyes:

And before all the shop assistants jump on me and tell me you're just doing your job I have done your job and worked in bars as a student. I used my common sense and id'd people who I thought were underage. I certainly never refused to sell wine to someone who had it in their weekly shop just because they had their children with them :rolleyes:

There is a world of difference between 25 and 18. The Think policy would have more credibility if it had remained Think 21

duchy

ells888 wrote: »

Sounds to me certain people on here are under the age anyway making comments like that. The girl was doing her job. Im sure most people would appreciate that rather than the alternative, underage being able to gain access to age restricted products ... anti social behaviour ... kids drinking on the streets, carrying knives, causing trouble?? A lot of fuss is being caused over Sainsburys being responsible employers. If you dont like it, shop elsewhere!

Really though the biggest problem is supermarkets employing kids who can't judge ages (at 16 often anyone over 22 has one foot in the grave type thinking ) However all the social issues you've quoted above aren't down to the supermarkets but down to poor parenting and the government could do with dealing with the root cause instead !

I've worked in bars in the past and in all honesty it isn't that hard to tell unless someone looks particually young for their age and most in that situation carry ID because they know it's an issue from experience. One of my supervisors had that problem -she was in her early 20s but looked much younger - whenever we went out she always carried ID as she knew she'd be asked. Ironically she was also at times supervising the bar and checking IDs. She was VERY good at spotting those under age !

You quoted my message above your own post Ells presumably your comment was aimed at me -so I guess you're NOT very good at guessing ages but thanks for the compliment :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

superscaper

snapping_crocodile wrote: »

Because the management will support the checkout operators decision and refuse to serve the alcohol because they are unable to provide ID

Is this from experience? I'd have thought the manager would want to ensure they were being more effective traders and protect their store policy rather than deviate from it (assuming OP was accurate). At 29 I wouldn't expect to be asked for ID and if the OP like myself "look 29" it'd be ridiculous under any circumstance because of age restriction to be asked for it.