Asda`s Think 25 policy - VENT

LittleVoice

DCFC79 wrote: »

Speaking from experience, the drivers who I know from work apply the same rules as the checkout assistants do in store eg if they dont look old enough then the delivery is returned back to store. If your son and housemates can prove they're ages with a passport/DL then thats fine.

The drivers are delivering goods already purchased. If they followed the rule of a purchaser not having anyone in their house who appeared to be under 25 at the time they delivered the purchase, there would be no point in any parent of youngish children daring to order a box of liquer chocolates or tub of brandy sauce.

Anselm

Sounds like you're buying the alcohol and then giving it to a minor (I know that's not the case, but that could be how it came accross to the assistant) and this is compounded by the fact the other person cannot prove her age.

At the end of the day, while regrettable, I don't blame the cashier for refusing - especially when they can be sacked and fined for serving a minor.

However, for you to say that being refused alcohol suddenly meant you 'had' to leave your shopping behind is laughable. Take it on the chin and realise the assistant was only doing her job, ditto for the manager. You do realise some poor sap has to put all that shopping back (which you spent an hour collecting I hasten to add - what a waste of time in the end!) because you spat your dummy out.

27col

I was in Wetherspoons a couple of years ago. There were a couple of girls getting served and they were both a bit put out.
One of them was bleating about having to produce ID and the other was bleating about not being asked to produce ID.
They both looked about the same age to me, although I am absolutely hopeless at estimating people's age.
I thought that it was amusing at the time.

bluenoseam

I've worked in an environment where you HAVE to get it right constantly - working with video games/dvd's will educate you sharply to how to spot underagers and borderline cases. Have I ID'd people over 25 in the past, yes (in my defense she looked like a teenager and was dressed like a teenager - and was happy to be ID'd!) - but it doesn't happen very often.

There are occasions though where it's obvious (I've been ID'd in the last month and I considered it laughable to the point where I voiced my opinion to the assistant) - and often times cheeky. I don't look anywhere near 25, I haven't done for a few years and frankly the last time I looked under 18 I was 14! Some checkout operators do it simply to get their jollies - some form of power trip which is incorrect use of the system, what makes it even more galling is the fact I'm known to the majority of them! I had one goon ignore a superior to ID me in Asda once (the superior happened to be my elder sister) - like I said, some people lack intellect!

I can understand that it happens (for example I didn't mind on the day of the Grand National as I know TS WOULD be sending out underagers) but stuff like this shows extreme stupidity. Especially given the fact it's perfectly legal for a parent to allow their child to drink in the privacy of their own home!

sarahg1969

bluenoseam wrote: »

I've worked in an environment where you HAVE to get it right constantly - working with video games/dvd's will educate you sharply to how to spot underagers and borderline cases. Have I ID'd people over 25 in the past, yes (in my defense she looked like a teenager and was dressed like a teenager - and was happy to be ID'd!) - but it doesn't happen very often.

There are occasions though where it's obvious (I've been ID'd in the last month and I considered it laughable to the point where I voiced my opinion to the assistant) - and often times cheeky. I don't look anywhere near 25, I haven't done for a few years and frankly the last time I looked under 18 I was 14! Some checkout operators do it simply to get their jollies - some form of power trip which is incorrect use of the system, what makes it even more galling is the fact I'm known to the majority of them! I had one goon ignore a superior to ID me in Asda once (the superior happened to be my elder sister) - like I said, some people lack intellect!

I can understand that it happens (for example I didn't mind on the day of the Grand National as I know TS WOULD be sending out underagers) but stuff like this shows extreme stupidity. Especially given the fact it's perfectly legal for a parent to allow their child to drink in the privacy of their own home!

The thing with DVDs and other age-restricted media products is that supermarkets have been 'enforcing' such a policy for years, including asking for ID for accompanying friends and children. The law for DVDs and games is not the same as for alcohol. The retailer is, by law (since January 2010), not allowed to sell to someone under the age limit, but there is no restriction in law about selling to someone who you think may supply the item to a younger person. In fact, until January 2010, the law that was supposed to cover such restrictions hadn't even been enacted properly.

DCFC79

Norma_Desmond wrote: »

The 'Think 21' and 'Think 25' policies are terribly unfair to employees.

Both staff and managers are under huge pressure to ask for ID and will face instant dismissal under charges of gross misconduct even if a customer/mystery customer IS actually 18 or over.

Its very unfair to the staff, you get some customers who are fine with being asked for ID then theres others who throw a wobbly just because they get asked for ID.

artbaron

fozmcfc wrote: »

Exactly the same why we need to have packets of nuts, telling people they are not suitable for nuts allergy sufferers

I've always thought that was an urban myth until recently I bought a packet of nuts and there, on the packet, was the warning "May contain traces of nuts!" Unbelievable.

neonlights

I have two funny stories related to this, they happened to my local Tesco Extra though.

First, my younger sister tried to buy some alcohol on her 18th birthday and the woman refused to authorize it on the self service tills because she said she didn't know what time my sister was born so she may not have been technically 18. I actually got a reply from Tesco about this who told me that it's not store policy and got a nice £10 voucher so I think she was probably just on a power trip trying to upset a young girl on her birthday. She told me couldn't buy it either because my sister was with me and she couldn't accept her identification. I took the stuff to another till and got served no problem, I made sure she saw me leave with our shopping on the way out!

Second happened a while ago when I tried to buy some alcohol and snacks for a party and the woman accepted the fact I was over 18 (I was 21) but wasn't 25 so couldn't serve me the alcohol but offered to put through the snacks. Honestly, I tried to question it but it was so busy, I just told her to cancel everything and left. I didn't bother chasing it up or complaining but I always wonder about that conversation... Maybe she didn't understand or was new but I can laugh about it now.

IenjoyAbargain

Anselm wrote: »

However, for you to say that being refused alcohol suddenly meant you 'had' to leave your shopping behind is laughable. Take it on the chin and realise the assistant was only doing her job, ditto for the manager. You do realise some poor sap has to put all that shopping back (which you spent an hour collecting I hasten to add - what a waste of time in the end!) because you spat your dummy out.

I spent an hour because I was adding things up to make it to £40 so I can get my £5 off. Very MSE it would not be if I would leave with £30 worth of shopping.

I am not the bad guy here. Me and friend are well over age and it was ridiculous to be questioned. The till lady was doing her job yes, and I now understand what the policy entails for the staff, but I still have to point out that it was a waste of my time and theirs for something completely innocent.


I do not expect them to take my word , no, but they cannot expect me to not 'spit my dummy out' when THEIR judgement of my age has costed me time and effort. If that makes me a !!!!!, then so be it.

They got their backs covered in the end, and I got my shoppings in Sainsbury`s.

Everyone wins.

IenjoyAbargain

purple.sarah wrote: »

What would you complain about? The "till lady" enforcing the id policy? That's her job! At the end of the day how can the staff know your friend's age or that she will not be consuming the alcohol? They are not going to take a gamble on your word when their job is at stake. I can understand it is frustrating for you but it is frustrating for the staff too. As a shop assistant, I live in fear that someone will kick off when I ask for their id and fear that if I don't I will lose my job. If I did accidentally sell alcohol to someone under age I could lose my job, be prosecuted, fined and face the prospect of trying to find a new job with a criminal record.


Think about the pressure shop staff are under.

I entirely appreciate that the till assistant was just doing her job, and I certainly did not kick off. I left my shopping, yes, and I apologised for the trouble, I found it shocking that I ACTUALLY HAD ID and that mattered for nothing.

Having never worked in a supermarket I do not understand the ticks of the trade, but my problem really is with the policy itself, and I would like to stress that I have every respect for people doing their jobs.

Its just mental. Nuff said.