Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/m...de/7003325.stm



:D:D:D:D:D:D

Love the stores response :D

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

Prehaps if the staff had used a bit of common sense?!? Or was that too much to ask?:)

I would love to be asked my age, but it appears those days are long gone! ;)

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

Some people are stupid, end of. I do not see why the guy feels the need to inform the press of the incident. Just go to another store

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

must start carrying my passport I`m only 69

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

Whilst I think it's daft, but if it's company policy to ask everyone (which is what the manager said) - then they have to ask - if the girl serving him hadn't asked, and been reported/pulled up on it, she'd have got a reprimand for it

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

I had the same problen in Walmart in Florida a few years ago. 60 years old and because I didn't have ID on me then no bottle of wine. The queue was in uproar. It seems that there they have a system where every so often alchohol sales have to have ID details entered into the till or its no sale. Eventually in my case common sense prevailed and they stuck a customer with ID in front of me allowing my sale to sail through.
Unfortunately some women think they are asked for ID because they look so young..........................wrong!

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

I'm sure the notices in our local Morrisons refer to the fact you may be asked to prove your age (if they think you are under age), not that you will be asked, even if you are clearly over 21.

Where does 21 come from anyway, the legal age is 18, not 21.

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

Seems like it's just that store?

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

This is it. The 21 is just to be on the safe side. They will/may ask you to proof you're over 18 if you look under 21. Apparently, that is now considered not sufficiently safe :dozey:. However, I believe the Morrison's policy is that you have to confirm rather than proof you're over 18/21.

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

Thats a bit weird.

"Sir are you over 21"

"Damn you've got me its a fair cop"

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

Hm, I think I got that wrong.

That's what you get with these bloody euphemisms.

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

The next nearest is Tesco in Heswall, 10 or 15 minutes drive away (and almost impossible by bus). Always assuming of course that he had a car with him, or could even drive. That branch of Morrisons is a small-ish one, on the edge of a residential area.

You go to your local shop because its convenient, and when your local shop screws up, you prefer that the local shop puts it right so you can go on shopping locally.

You suggest this man is stupid for making a fuss - I think he would be stupid if he needlessly complicated his weekly shopping trip rather than trying to sort it out.

As he clearly stated, and was quoted saying in the BBC article, he has no problem with the principle of ensuring alcohol sales are not made to children, he has a problem with the brainless, humourless way it was enforced.

The actions of the checkout operator as described in that article are disappointing enough, but if the branch manager really did carry on in the way he is said to have, then he is a disgrace who should not be in charge of any operation that claims to care about customer service.

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

Ok Fair enough, But my point was that it was needless to go to the media. He was correct to see the manager and file a complaint. After that though there is nothing else, it's a private company and if, after taking it to the HQ, they do not do anything he is left with little choice but to shop elsewhere or to hope it does not happen again.

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

Im 19, and i still get asked for ID when im buying alcohol from a store, but at 72 its a bit OTT

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

Perhaps this (ridiculous) policy will be revised following the media attention?

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

But that's not true. There is something else - he can make a fuss. The store, and Head Office, are more likely to do something if they think their reputation is at risk. Customer comment cards are very easily swept under the carpet.

He was absolutely spot on to go to the Press with this. There are two free local papers there, either or both of them would love a story like this. Then there's the Liverpool Echo. In all likelihood it's already had local Press coverage, that will be where the BBC cribbed it from.

The bigger profile this story gets, and the more Morrisons decline to make any meaningful comment - by which I mean, engaging with the specifics of this case, rather than brainless repetition of company policy by an official 'spokesman' - the more room this pensioner has to cast himself as the victim, and the local store as the bad guy.

We have had other, bigger demonstrations recently of how media coverage can be more important than actual facts on the ground in establishing in the mind of the public who is to 'blame' for something. This is a far smaller incident but the principles are the same.

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

Doesn't say that an answer is required...

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

All they did was brainlessly follow store policy no matter how absurd. It's not worth going to the media with IMO. Complain, then either decide to continue shopping there and bring ID just in case or shop elsewhere.

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

You're setting up a 'false dilemma'.

There are other options - such as complaining in a public way that may be more effective at changing store policy than a simple comment card is.

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

Hope I'm not going 'off topic' too much?!?

Just been to our local Sainsburys. At that tobacco counter there are signs saying that 'as of 01/10/07, you have to be over 18 to buy tobacco products.

Didn't realise that that one had been passed!

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

http://www.tobaccoagechange.co.uk/

Passed by Parliament this time last year.

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

Thanks. Wasn't warching that one. To old and too busy watching the world demolish itself!

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

Yeah but as it so happens they DON'T ask EVERYONE if they are over 21.If it's store policy they should ask the same question of everyone buying alcohol or tobacco not just the odd person whom is obviously over 21.

Anyway when did the age of drinking revert back to 21? I swear that an 18 year old can still buy alcohol legally. :erm:

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

They can, It's just policy to ask anyone who looks under 21. I guess because some teenagers can look over 18...

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

It seems an assinine policy. The one you usually get around NY is expect to be carded if you look under 40. The penalties here are pretty strict on the server, not just the bar. Some bars (I know this is a supermarket) enforce this by carding at the door so the bar staff know everyone in there is over 21.

Seems to be a more sensible cut off than 60+ IMHO.

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

So why ask someone whom it is obvious they are well over either age? :shrug:

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

I suspect that somewhere in the background is a corporate lawyer, paranoid about the company being sued for discrimination or slander or something ... :erm:

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

They are idiots I guess :erm:

Maybe he was a very young looking 72 year old. :p:

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

Well maybe the next time I buy tobacco or alcohol and I'm not asked if I'm over 21 I should sue on the grounds of being left out.. ;)

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

Made front page of the echo last night ;)

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

Same thing happened in January to an 87 year old.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/e...re/6296637.stm

...but why is it only in certain stores? Why not nationwide?

.

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

My local Morrisons store has been reported by police to the licence justices. 2 plain clothes police officers accompanied a 15 year old girl whilst she purchased intoxicating liquor. After the purchase, the police officers revealed their identities and cautioned the store manager that he would be reported to justices.
Whilst not wishing to appear to condone the offence, I do believe that if they had not set out to entrap, no offence would had been commited.

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

I'm with Mr Love Monkey on this one... it's company policy, neither the checkout operator nor the manager are paid to question their employer's policy, they're paid to enforce it.

---------- Post added at 16:48 ---------- Previous post was at 16:44 ----------

As far as I understand it, it is the policy within that store to ask everyone to prove their age - irrespective of how old they appear.

You can argue that this guy is clearly over 21 so why bother asking him... but where do you draw the line? Someone who is over 50...? Over 40...? Over 30...? Much easier to impose a blanket "prove your age" policy for anyone and everyone.

Legally they can... but legally a shop employee can refuse to sell alcohol to whomever they please for whatever reason they like.

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

Sainsburys have signs up about being 21 etc I always wondered why when the legal age is 18

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

It's the creeping Americanization(sic) of the country.

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

I have got two Morrisons near me and I have been asked in both stores to confirm that I was over 21. This has been going on for nearly 2 years now. I have seen it happen to people far older than me...

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

When you say confirm, do you mean prove (with ID), or simply say: yes, I am over 21?

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

To say yes...

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

The guy objected to the manner in which she asked, and the manner in which the store manager dealt with it. Aren't they given guidance on good customer relations?

I wonder if the assistant was old enough to be selling alcohol.

The store manager needs to learn how to deal with things like this, perhaps he is too young to have the correct life experience.

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

That's what I thought (again) after reading the second story that was linked to. In a way that makes it even sillier. It looks like they are just trying to cover their own back, as you must have been lying if it turns out you are not over 21.

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

Thank goodness this hasn't reached as far as our local Morrisons/Sainsburys. My passport's at the office being renewed - I'd have to be sober for a fortnight. Saying that I never take it out with me any way.

If you're old enough to be holding a credit card (and paying with it) then you're old enough to buy drink in the most part.:rolleyes:

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

There was a story a few years ago that a Petrol tanker drive, had pulled in to a service station off a motorway to fill up and get get some cigs,at 2am, they refused to sell him them because they didn't think he was old enough.

Despite the fact you had to be over 21 to drive a tanker.

It all madness.

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

Don't they train checkout staff properly any more? :shocked:

Anyone knows that the correct way to serve alcohol to a pensioner is to flirt with them, flutter your eyes at them and say that you're not convinced by their fake ID but you'll sell them the bottle anyway so long as you don't tell the store manager ;)

Policy or no policy - what kind of person doesn't recognise this as a rule just screaming 'break me' :rolleyes:

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

most big shops display signs saying if your under21 you will be asked for i/d shurly this is discrimination ,the law says 18 for alchohol and 16 for cigs, no mention of 21, theres no wonder young people fell peed off

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

A check-out assistant.......:p:

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

I'd be surprised if it got them out of a conviction though. :erm:

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

I've just come back from the shop over the road, a large group of lads were in there buying beer, they bought child travel cards whilst they were there as well, the assistant didn't even realise :dozey: :rofl:

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

Pity I don't drink cause I want to be asked my age.......on second thoughts forget that cause I would be upset if they didn't now lol

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

Well I never get asked at my local Morrisons..Maybe the fact I've taught a few of them is a deterrent. ;)

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

Possibly someone who wants to keep their job ;)

They do seem to be serious in enforcing that policy in my local stores, so they may be serious over any disciplinary action...

I wonder why the management have taken such a stance...imagine the trouble in a pub if the barmen had to do the same... :knock: ;) :D

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

slightly off topic, but i was in tesco last week, and some arsy assistant refused to serve me a bladeless razor unless i showed some ID.
What did she think i was going to do with a blunt bit of plastic? melt it and sniff the fumes?

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

I worked for Morrisons for a few months recently. I feel really sorry for the checkout assistants. Selling alcohol to the underage is taken very seriously by councils, by supermarkets, and by staff. Councils send in undercover operators to check. If an assistant is found selling alcohol to minors, the assistant can be fined up to £2,000, and the store can lose its licence if a repeat offender.

Training videos are circulated to staff showing an interview of an assistant who really did sell alcohol in good faith to an underage girl thinking that she did look over 21. I don't blame assistants for asking politely in refusing to take risks. On a check out assistant's wages, a fine like that is just not worth the risk. If that offends a customer, I'm sorry but imo, that's tough!

A hardware shop in the same town as the Morrisons I worked at was visited by an undercover council inspector who watched a boy buy a craft knife. The shop owner received a fine that equalled more than his weeks takings. The poor innocent fool that served the kid thought that the inspector was his father!

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

Seriously, what on Earth? He looks clearly over 21. Did the person on the checkout have incorrect glasses, was colour blind or something? :erm:

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

Not really discrimination since if said person can prove they are 18 then they can still purchase what they wanted. They will just be asked if they look under 21.

What happened in this store is clearly a bit OTT but I have to admit that if the store I used to work in had introduced this as policy I would have done the same. I work just a couple of miles away from the west kirby store where this happened and about 2 years ago I was caught out by a plain clothes police officer and an underage girl. I was fined £80 and because I had violated company policy by not checking her age anyway the company refused to support me financially (This was before challenge 21 policy existed). Luckily for me there was a collection done around the store and they collected the whole £80 for me.

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

In my opinion the checkout operator was following company policy, it was the attitude of the customer that caused the problem, he was asked to confirm he was over 21, all he had to do was to say yes?

Instead it becomes an out of proportion (imo) story in the national press.

My son's ex girlfriend was fined £80 by her employer for selling alcohol to an under 18 customer, no sympathy implied, but it shows that the onus is on the employee to get it right - in the reported story the customer was guilty of failing to take that into account, in my opinion.

Even though, at face value, it is 'bureaucracy gone mad' , it is being done for a very good reason - too many under age drinkers, so I, personally, welcome any measures taken to reduce that :)

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

I'm a bit confused by all this. If the check-out assistant asks a person if they are over 21 and they say "yes", does that clear the assistant of all responsibility? If not, then why ask?

Surely the check-out staff still have to make a judgement as to whether the person looks over 18/21. If they think they look under age (and the customer cannot provide ID) then they will not serve them even if they say they are over 21. If they think they look over 21 they will simply ask them, and if they say "yes" they will be served.

Also a verbal "yes" or "no" means nothing. It can always be disputed later, so again, why ask if it cannot be proved or disproved (unless all conversations are recorded).

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

went to tesco yesterday ,got a few bits n bobs ,and a bottle of red, went thru the quick pay thingy [no till person] just about to pay when a young lady appears and asks sorry sir are you over21,i replied im twice your age love she smiled and said thats ok then, i havent been asked how old i am for over 30 years, are therse people sane

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

And yet

It's almost as if some people are both blind and brain dead

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

According to USDAW the law states, to avoid prosecution, the seller has to 'take all reasonable steps' to avoid serving under age customers:

• If in any doubt, ask the age of the purchaser.

• If you are still even slightly unsure, ask for proof of age.

• If there is no valid ID, refuse the sale.

If the seller is charged with making an under-age sale, but can prove that they took these reasonable steps, they will escape prosecution.

If I had been working on a checkout (which has to be a really mind numbing job) I might well have wanted to get into the habit of wanting every customer buying alcohol to confirm that they were legally able to make the purchase. And checkout assistants are constantly reminded of the need to be vigilant by managers.

That's the climate that has been created in Britain with undercover enforcement officers.

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

No it's that we are developing the mindset of corporate lawyers.

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

Or that the government is prepared to unfairly hold the hapless checkout assistants responsible so that it can claim to be tackling underage drinking. Either way, I don't see why checkout assistants should be expected to rock the boat. Hardly anyone else does.

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

I really don;t think asking "are you over 21?" is sufficient to cover these points. I think you'd still be prosecuted if you fell fowl of the law and were caught.

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

Anyone who works for Morrisons are either two sandwiches short of a picnic or are just plain :dunce: I worked for Safeway/morrisons three years ago. I am glad I left. All the dairy was on the bottom of a pile of heavy ladened ready meals. Er, I think the dairy was like crushed.

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

Well to be fair, I don't think most people grow up thinking of working at Morrisons as their dream job - I'm sure most of them would like to work elsewhere

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

You said -
Then you said -

I know you have now left, but I assume you weren't including yourself in the first statement.:D

---------- Post added at 14:11 ---------- Previous post was at 14:10 ----------

Sir Ken Morrison might disagree - I am sure it was his dream job ;)

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

Nah, I've met him, he said he always wanted to be an Fighter Pilot

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

Douglas Bader?

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

No, it's just the way my trousers hang

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

They still wet? (from your "little problem")......... ;)

I thought you had just got legless last night.

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

oi - less of the 'little' :)

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

I went into the Morrisons in Eccles today. I had gotten some beer and after she had put the bottles through the till, she said to me in future I would have to provide an ID to prove that I was over 25.

Well, it's nearly 10 years since I passed that birthday and there is no way that I could pass for being younger.

My only ID is my passport and I am not going to be carrying that around just to buy booze, I'd rather go elsewhere.

From Freezin's post, it states "If in any doubt, ask the age of the purchaser". If that guidance is correct, I take it that it is not compulsory to ask, so why can they not let the checkout operators use their judgement?

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

25? They are suggesting you have to prove you're over 25 to buy beer now? :rolleyes:

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

I was in a local Tesco Metro the other night, the girl on the checkout served this guy with a couple of bottles of alcohol then refused to serve him with 20 cigs. :confused:

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

I got asked for ID in ASDA on Saturday, while trying to buy cigarettes... I turned 18 back in 1995!!!! :rolleyes:



What? Does she mistakenly think that tobacco has a higher age limit than alcohol? Very odd!

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

If checkout operators use their judgement and they are wrong, they personally faces a large fine, losing their job, and a criminal record, and the store runs the risk of having its licence to sell alcohol revoked. I worked for a supermarket last year, where staff were constantly reminded of these risks.

Some of the customers who get challenged are understandably very irate, but I don't blame the staff for not taking the slightest chance. With the threats they face, who can blame them for being paranoid? Why should supermarkets and their staff make a stand against this nonsense? Nobody else does.

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

People 30 or 40+ do not look 18, some people need common sense.

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

The the only time I've been ever asked for ID was when I was living in Toronto. I never get asked for ID round here.

I wonder if it's the fact that I am a very tall guy :)

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

But, doesn't everyone over the age of sixty seem drunk?

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

Well that's what the operator told me.

That is my point. I do not look younger than 25 or 21 so how can the till operator risk getting fined and/or a criminal record?

Fair enough, there are people on the borderline where it is better to be safe than sorry, but I have seen them ask people in their 50's and above. Come on, let them use their own judgement, instead of a blanket question.

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

I had two friends (well, more than two, but two that illustrate this point).

One, who even at 13 could pass for 18 easily (even to the point they could get served in pubs, or rent 18 videos).

The other, who was 24 and got stopped doing both regularly enough (even at a local club, Langtrys in Beckenham, that has a reputation for allowing under-age girls in) that she routinely carried proof of her age.

Back to the point:

I can see that what has probably happend is that the store published this policy. The manager, wanting to look efficient to his superiors has probably asked his staff to go above and beyond what is required by the policy, so the woman has enforced the policy a little rigidly..

Either that, or the lady was in the middle (or at the end) of a long shift, and *really* wasn't thinking (I worked for Blockbuster, been there, done that).

Either way it is good sense for the store to apologise, even if they are in the right.

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

I agree but it's not just the checkout operator that needs common sense, it's the government and the police who have induced the present situation, and the under age drinkers themselves. The checkout operator should not be carrying the can for under age drinking unless they sell to someone who is obviously under age.

Checkout operators should not be placed in a position whereby they feel they need to be so cautious, and they have been placed in that position by the rigid enforcement of the law. That's the way the law is applied now.

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

Cigarettes are the same age limit as alcohol now for anyone who's 16th birthday didn't come after the new legislation came in

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

And so are Tippex and razor blades! The list of products for which the checkout operator must assess age is growing ever longer.

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

When the person is visibly a pensioner this is just a pathetic line and the stores are just taking it too far as there was no chance of a fine here. This was a case of "we have been caught out before so we will treat everybody the same cos our staff are too dumb to figure it themselves"


Bottom line,if you want to buy alchohol, DO NOT go to morrisons, simple really.

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

It was long enough last time I was in retail! You can't help feel sorry for these people surely

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

Yet nobody is allowed to buy more than two packs of Paracetamol from the same store. Which is a laugh.

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

Why is that a laugh?

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

Asking someone if they are over 18 is NOT against the law (although asking an elderly man is ultra, ultra cautious). Selling alcohol to someone who is under age IS against the law, with checkout operator held personally responsible. The store at the centre of this 72 year old's complaint had been fined before, and the checkout staff had been asked to ask everyone as a precaution. Do you know that it wasn't this particular member of staff who was a guilty party in the previous fine? If she had been on the receiving end of a dressing down by the police? The staff are not dumb, and don't like having to ask any more than customers like to be questioned. If people obeyed the law, staff would not be put in this position.

What is the problem if asked politely if you are over 18? If you are, it's simple enough to answer 'yes', collect your goods and be on your way.

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

Because you can walk out of that store into another and buy two more packs, then out of that store into another etc etc...

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

and when you, your partner and your children are sick and you go into a store to by such drugs for all of them the limit means that in your weakened state you need to go back 24 hours later as the lot of you have got through the amount you can buy in one shop!

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

Yeah, but surely that's a liability thing more than anything. No store wants some mad lawsuit against them for being the supplier of drugs that someone used to top themselves. Aside from that, I suppose it makes it at the very least, that bit more difficult for someone in that frame of mind. Slightest chance it might put them off too I suppose.

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

I know the no more than 32 Paracetamol rule was brought in to stop suicides from overdosing and apparently it's supposed to have worked(apparently a suicide can't work out the go to another shop trick) but I reckon the real winners were the pharmaceutical companies.

It began to cost double the price to buy the blister packs in packs of 32 or less.When I could buy 100 at a time it was so much cheaper.

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

The reason is that many suicides are 'spur of the moment' decisions made when the opportunity is there. They don't tend to be planned. So if you happen to have 50 paracetamol in the house, you might take it. If you don't then you don't. Few people would actually go out and buy paracetamol in order to commit suicide. The 32 paracetamol rule reduces the number people tend to have in the house (because people tend to not go to another shop/go back into the shop).

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

Good points but:

I'm pretty sure I learned that suicides in adults tend to be considerably pre-meditated & quite well planned.

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

I wonder what the person on the checkout would ask if I bought 32 Paracetamol and 2 large bottles of whiskey or other spirits? Because i'm sure that'll do the job.

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

It may well be that there is a difference between adolescents and adults in this (and that what I learned related to adolescents) ;)

Re: Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol
 

Gotchya. ;)