Sainsburys: no alcohol to under 21?

[williamp]

Was in Sainsburys today gettig the shopping, and I noticed that my cashier (and everyone else, for that matter) were wearing badges which said somehting like

"Buying alcohol? I have to ask if you're over 21- its my job"

So, if I'm over 18 but under 21, will they refuse to serve me? (alas I am not under 21)

[mcflurry]

No, it just means they will ask for id if you look 20ish as opposed to if you look about 16...

[fid]

I think they do it so that people who are over 18, but might not look it, don't get too offended at being asked for ID.

[simpo two]

When I bought some Baileys in Fiveways (CoOp) I had to press a button that said 'I am over 18'. WTF?

[pmanson]

I'm working in Sainsburys over xmas. We have to ask ID for any one who appears under 21 but will serve any one over the age of 18 with ID.

Saves our back! We're personally liable if we serve any one under age

>> Edited by pmanson on Saturday 17th December 21:16

[julianhj]

£80 on the spot fine for bar staff / shop workers caught out in sting operations. Seems like a good idea to me.

[bmgm3]

Asda does the same thing now.

[Tuska]

I lived in the States back in 1991, in Boston.

Massachusets is a puritanical State and in common with federal policy you have to be 21 to get booze.

The policy there is if you look under 35 (yes thirty five) then you have to prove that you are over 21.

Very, very anal.

[freddytin]

If you don't look 21 they are obliged to ask for proof of age.
My 15 year old daughter is asked by local trading standards and police to help check up on licenced premises. She is duly rewarded with vouchers for book stores and the like. So much better than partying in the park late at night with the other juveniles

[gopher]

Tuska said:

I lived in the States back in 1991, in Boston. Massachusets is a puritanical State and in common with federal policy you have to be 21 to get booze. The policy there is if you look under 35 (yes thirty five) then you have to prove that you are over 21. Very, very anal.

I can well believe it, I know a store we went into in Florida had signs up saying "we ID Everyone" (and a lot do, but don't) and it was true, including the guy in front of us who could not have been a day under 50. I understand the penalties for owners are quite stiff mind for those that do serve under 21s, but, well I suppose he was "only doing his job" can't blame him really.

[Lois]

Asda has this "challenge 21" thing. Last time I was buying wine I got asked if I was over 18. She never got any ID off me though!! I just said "and then some" and showed her my oil of olay instead!! New trick for people without ID! haha!

[whoami]

I was in Minneapolis on business last month,

I am 38 and wes refused entry to more than one establishment because I had no photographic proof that i was over 21.

[pies]

Sainsbury's asked me for ID yesterday,to say i was shocked was an understatement

[grahamw48]

Good idea.

It's shocking selling cheap beer in supermarkets, to anyone who wants to consume alcohol, like MPs, Priests, and other drunkards.

Us old folk are already scared to go out, what with all these young people enjoying themselves.

Next the Muslims will be complaining.

[alc]

Tesco does it as well - I asked them if they had trawled out some old signs from "pre 18 being age of whatsit" but they said they use 21 as a guideline to test if the buyer is under 18?????????????????

[pmanson]

alc said:

Tesco does it as well - I asked them if they had trawled out some old signs from "pre 18 being age of whatsit" but they said they use 21 as a guideline to test if the buyer is under 18?????????????????

The problem is lots of 16 year olds look 18.

[condor]

Yes - challenge 21 is part of the new licencing 2003 act which came into force on the 24 November.
Its now a requirement to challenge anyone that looks under 21 for ID, but you only have to prove you're over 18- only ID accepted is driving licence with photo - passport - other photographic ID with the PASS logo on.
There are on the spot penalty fines of £80 for anyone selling to minors - and trading standards use under 18s ( agent provacateurs) to test alcohol suppliers.

[alc]

Roll on the day they introduce compulsive ID

[C C]

I a way I feel sorry for youngsters today. A long time ago when I was sixteen / seventeen. All my mates and myself drank in the local pubs. The landlords and ladies knew full well how old we were but there was never any problem because we mixed with the older people in the pubs and never felt the need to act stupidly. Ok at dances and discos the odd fight would break out but nothing on a par with the vomiting and brawling we see around our cities today. Buying booze to drink on the street never entered our heads. Probably because if we wanted a drink we’d nip in the pub and have one.

[vixpy1]

C C said:

I a way I feel sorry for youngsters today. A long time ago when I was sixteen / seventeen. All my mates and myself drank in the local pubs.

Yes.. but thats because your Old !