Seventy two year old man stopped from buying alcohol

mrmistoffelees · 20-09-2007, 12:29

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

Love the stores response

Woolly One · 20-09-2007, 12:41

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!

**Damien** · 20-09-2007, 12:48

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

RUSTY · 20-09-2007, 12:50

must start carrying my passport I`m only 69

Mr_love_monkey · 20-09-2007, 13:13

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

terrynewpack · 20-09-2007, 13:25

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!

**Paul** · 20-09-2007, 13:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_love_monkey

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

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.

Mr_love_monkey · 20-09-2007, 13:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul M

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.

Seems like it's just that store?

Quote:

"We take our responsibility with regard to selling alcohol very seriously and all our stores operate the Task 21 scheme, which addresses the difficulties our staff face in being able to determine if a customer is legally old enough to buy alcohol.

"To further limit any element of doubt staff at the West Kirby store are required to ask anyone buying alcohol to confirm that they are over 21."

danielf · 20-09-2007, 13:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul M

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.

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

. However, I believe the Morrison's policy is that you have to confirm rather than proof you're over 18/21.

gazzae · 20-09-2007, 13:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by danielf

However, I believe the Morrison's policy is that you have to confirm rather than proof you're over 18/21.

Thats a bit weird.

"Sir are you over 21"

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

danielf · 20-09-2007, 13:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by gazzae

Thats a bit weird.

"Sir are you over 21"

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

Hm, I think I got that wrong.

Quote:

Check-out staff at Morrisons in West Kirby, Wirral, demanded Tony Ralls prove he was old enough to buy his two bottles of Cabernet Sauvignon.

That's what you get with these bloody euphemisms.

**Chris** · 20-09-2007, 13:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Damien

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

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.

**Damien** · 20-09-2007, 13:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris T

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.

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.

MadGamer · 20-09-2007, 14:00

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

danielf · 20-09-2007, 14:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Damien

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.

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