Age Verification Policy when shopping with partner/child

European_Citizen

I was hoping for some advice from wiser forum members on age verification policy when buying alcohol. In short, I was at a supermarket with my husband who was paying and had an ID but was refused sale because I didn't have one. I've tried to find the precise policy on age verification but to no avail: all I've found is that there is an obligation to verify the age of the customer attempting to buy alcohol. However, I was not technically trying to buy anything: I was merely standing next to my husband. Am I wrong?

Thank you.

System

i think there have been situations where parents have been refused alcohol because their child is standing next to them.

I believe age verification is down to the retailer's policy and they can basically do what they like (as long as they don't sell to under 18's)

Azari

We keep hearing weird tales about people being refused alcohol because 'they might be going to give it to someone they are with'.

Whilst it makes some sense to try and prevent adults buying alcohol for the under age it's being taken to ridiculous extremes.

It seems that if any shop assistant has just seen you talking to someone who appears to be under age that is good enough to get you refused service. (Obviously this is not commonplace).

The law really needs to be clarified to make it clear just what shops should and should not do when 'associating' potential buyers with others they may be with.

maninthestreet

There is a legal obligation to verify the age of someone attempting to buy alcohol iy they appear to be under the age of 21.
Exactly how old are you?

browneyedbazzi

Hi OP, each premises that is licensed to sell alcohol is required by a mandatory condition on their licence to have an age verification policy. There is a minimum standard for the policy (can be found on the Home Office website) but many licence holders choose to have policies that are more stringent than the minimum standard. This is because if an underage sale occurs there's a burden on the shop that sold to prove that they did everything reasonable to prevent a sale - and that includes going beyond the statutory minimum.

In addition to the offence of selling alcohol to someone underage it is also an offence to allow alcohol to be given to someone underage on licensed premises - so the shop probably wanted to see ID from you in case your partner gave the alcohol to you.

browneyedbazzi

maninthestreet wrote: »

There is a legal obligation to verify the age of someone attempting to buy alcohol iy they appear to be under the age of 21.
Exactly how old are you?

That isn't true, many places operate a 'Think 21' or similar scheme in order to demonstrate their diligence regarding underage sales (and it is good practice to do so), but there is no legislation that says they have to.

sarahg1969

Some supermarkets follow a similar policy with DVDs. However, the law is not the same as with alcohol. With alcohol, they are not allowed to sell alcohol to a person who they think may supply it to a minor. With DVDs, they are not allowed to sell to someone underage, and nothing more.

CoolHotCold

At the end of the day, a shop doesn't have to legally sell you anything.

European_Citizen

maninthestreet wrote: »

There is a legal obligation to verify the age of someone attempting to buy alcohol iy they appear to be under the age of 21.
Exactly how old are you?

I'm 29. I forgot to mention that this happened in Scotland, where they operate 'challenge 25'. This is what the law says:

"steps are to be taken to establish the age of a person attempting to buy alcohol on the premises (“the customer”) if it appears to the person selling the alcohol that the customer may be less than 25 years of age (or such older age as may be specified in the policy)." (Alcohol etc (Scotland) Act 2010).

My question is: if I am not attempting to buy alcohol, then why should I be asked for an ID? Some posters have mentioned that it would be an offense to sell alcohol to somebody whom they suspect might give it to a minor: I would be grateful for a link with more info, if possible. I always thought that only buying alcohol and giving it to a minor was an offense but it seems I was wrong.

Thank you for all your replies!

European_Citizen

CoolHotCold wrote: »

At the end of the day, a shop doesn't have to legally sell you anything.

I'm not challenging the age verification policy as such: if I was shopping alone I would have still been upset but only at myself for failing to produce an ID. However, I was not trying to buy anything: my husband was.

peachyprice

maninthestreet wrote: »

There is a legal obligation to verify the age of someone attempting to buy alcohol iy they appear to be under the age of 21.
Exactly how old are you?

No, there isn't. Think 21 and think 25 are shop's own initiatives.