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
