Co-op asking for ID

eyelinerprincess

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/north_yorkshire/6296637.stm

furrypolka

I once got asked for ID when I went to join the local Matalan, where you have to be 16 to get a card. I was 23 at the time and was with my 34 year old boyfriend. He must have felt like a pervert!

I also recently forced a woman in Asda to ask me for ID when I bought some alcohol, after she commented on whether it was alcohol and I mistakenly thought she was going to ID me (I am now 30). She spoiled it by saying "Are you over 18, madam?"

Seriously though, it's not just the licensee who can be prosecuted now. The sellers can receive an £80 on the spot fine, as someone else mentioned, and naturally some of those who sell will also lose their jobs as a result. There is a huge emphasis on responsible retailing now, and a fair few undercover exercises done regularly by police and Trading Standards, so it's no surprise that people are a lot hotter on the ID issue than previously.

kellyaicken

Hi all,Just had to laugh at reading this post. I went out to Tesco Express last night with my 10 year old daughter to buy some ciggies and I got asked for ID. I am 33 years old. I felt so embarrassed!! I know some would see it as a compliment and wished it for themselves, but I just felt mortified! How can the assistant get it so wrong, I know I look younger than 33 but under 16, that is just plain stupid!!!

achtunglady

H&H wrote:

Until about two years ago if a checkout operator sold an age limited item to an under aged, the supermarket was fined. If this happens today, the supermarket is not only fined, but the cashier is also prosecuted and could indeed end up imprisoned. I remember when we watched the training video at the supermarket where I work, I was shocked and now I am over vigilant when selling such items.

I think over regulation can have a detrimental effect on common sense, another good example is all these over complicated Health&Safety laws..

Yes as well as the store being fined, the responsibility lies with the cashier too, fines of up to £2,000 and 6 months imprisonment too.

When I was a cashier I had to refuse a little lad a pair of scissors because he was under 16, he said it was for his school project. He came back with his mum who made the purchase, but be careful- even if the mum hands you the money and little junior puts his hand out for the change(like alot of kids do while mum is sorting herself out), if you hand it to him, it is as if you have served him so make sure you accept the money from the adult and give the change back to the adult too.

gyzmo

Was in Tescos yesterday when this lad (who looked about 6 years old and was wearing a school uniform) kicked off when the assistant wouldn't serve him cigarettes. A minute later an older lad (about 15 who looked like he was on work experience) come in and asked for the cigarettes. When the woman again refused, he said that he was a Trading Standards Officer on a test purchase, and needed the cigs as evidence!

Thankfully the shop assistant got security to kick them out. i just couldn't believe someone would actually say that and expect to get away with it.

Think kids are starting to get a bit too crafty!

furrypolka

They should be informed that impersonating a Trading Standards officer is a criminal offence!

Incidentally a TS officer would never go anywhere like this without a warrant and ID, and where there is no sale there is no evidence needed as there would have been no offence (obvious really, dumb kid!).

achtunglady

gyzmo wrote:

Was in Tescos yesterday when this lad (who looked about 6 years old and was wearing a school uniform) kicked off when the assistant wouldn't serve him cigarettes. A minute later an older lad (about 15 who looked like he was on work experience) come in and asked for the cigarettes. When the woman again refused, he said that he was a Trading Standards Officer on a test purchase, and needed the cigs as evidence!

Thankfully the shop assistant got security to kick them out. i just couldn't believe someone would actually say that and expect to get away with it.

Think kids are starting to get a bit too crafty!

I'd have said to him, your a bit small aren't you see smoking does stunt your growth.

I would have called his school up and spoke to the headmaster/mistress

furrypolka

Just had another thought, can you imagine Trading Standards using undercover volunteers to buy alcohol wearing school uniform :rotfl:

snails's_pace

it is not just alcahol mainly,that the challenge 21 is in place for. it is FOR ALL age related products ie...lottery,scratch cards, medicines, magazines (including pc mags with attached games that have a rating)..lighter fuel,matches..the list goes on and on.

the lady was well within her rights to ask for id......if you get caught selling an age related product to someone NOT of age, then the buck stops with the assistant and she/he can be fined up to £5000 and/or imprisonment.
so for the sake of asking......it is a question well worth asking....

furrypolka

snails's_pace wrote:

the lady was well within her rights to ask for id......if you get caught selling an age related product to someone NOT of age, then the buck stops with the assistant and she/he can be fined up to £5000 and/or imprisonment.
so for the sake of asking......it is a question well worth asking....

Not for the person making the sale - they are subject to an £80 on the spot fine (and possible loss of job) but they won't be personally fined more than that or be imprisoned. The licensee can be prosecuted, but not the seller.