Stores won't sell alcohol to parents with kids in tow
Categories: Teens & tweens, Health & safety, In the news, Alcohol & drugs
Tesco, a large grocery chain in the UK, has angered and bewildered many parents with their new rules regarding alcohol sales. Managers have instructed their cashiers to refuse to sell alcohol to any adult who they suspect may be making the purchase for someone who is underage. Having been told to "err of the side of caution", many cashiers are turning away adult customers who happen to have a child standing next to them. That, of course, includes parents shopping with their children.
It happened to Dominic Zenden. He wasn't allowed to purchase a six-pack of Budweiser because his 15-year-old daughter happened to be with him. "I was dumbfounded," he said. "There was absolutely no indication that my daughter would be drinking the alcohol – it was for me. But the woman told me that they don't sell alcohol to people who have children with them."
39-year-old Debbie Bell had to return a case of Fosters and a bottle of cider to the shelf because her 18-year-old stepson couldn't produce proof of age. She said: "You can't do that just because somebody has kids with them.
A spokesman for Tesco says, "I can understand the frustrations of the customer but I think that any reasonable parent would understand the problem and support our policy."
If think that if Tesco finds any success at all in this new policy, it will likely be due to the fact that adults are going to go elsewhere to purchase alcohol. I know I would.
It happened to Dominic Zenden. He wasn't allowed to purchase a six-pack of Budweiser because his 15-year-old daughter happened to be with him. "I was dumbfounded," he said. "There was absolutely no indication that my daughter would be drinking the alcohol – it was for me. But the woman told me that they don't sell alcohol to people who have children with them."
39-year-old Debbie Bell had to return a case of Fosters and a bottle of cider to the shelf because her 18-year-old stepson couldn't produce proof of age. She said: "You can't do that just because somebody has kids with them.
A spokesman for Tesco says, "I can understand the frustrations of the customer but I think that any reasonable parent would understand the problem and support our policy."
If think that if Tesco finds any success at all in this new policy, it will likely be due to the fact that adults are going to go elsewhere to purchase alcohol. I know I would.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 6)
Carolyn 5-15-2008 @ 2:40PM
Well, it seems like there is a good rule somewhere in there that the store has completely lost sight of.
I absolutely agree that if they suspect someone's buying booze for a minor then they should be able to to refuse service. But just because I'm buying a six-pack with my daughter beside me doesn't mean we're going to go shotgun it in the parking lot. That's ridiculous.
Carolyn
http://www.momsontheedge.ca
Reply
Francisco 5-19-2008 @ 7:29AM
Leave your children at home while making your desired purchases. Increase your waist-line and promote staggering in the confines of your castle whiles your children observe and be influenced. If they must be indoctrinated to the pleasures of alcohol, assume your responsibilites as parents, teach them first hand! Drunks begets drunks!
jakki 5-19-2008 @ 10:01AM
If they suspect someone is trying to buy alchohol for a minor, then the answer is to call the cops, not just refuse service.
Amy 5-19-2008 @ 11:53AM
This happened to my husband and I at a Kroger store. I didn't have my purse with me so they assumed I was underage and he was buying for me. We ended up asking a cop who was outside the store and he said the rule is crazy.
Sabrina 5-15-2008 @ 2:50PM
The amazing part is that this is happening in the UK, not in the US, where discussions have been had about not letting people with children purchase cigarettes, wether the kids are with them or not.
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CJ 5-19-2008 @ 9:13AM
It happened right here in the USA! My 35 year old son was told he could not purchase beer at a local grocery store in Kenosha, Wisconsin. His 16 year old son (my grandson) was standing next to him in line to check out and the cashier assumed he was buying the beer for a minor.
Dixigalna4x4 5-19-2008 @ 9:31AM
Actually this is happening in the U.S. Wal-Mart will not sell alchol to you if you have someone with you who is under age. I don;t know if all Wal-Marts are doing this but some of them in VA are.
thrtnstars 5-19-2008 @ 11:15AM
Target stores in the United States DO have this policy, and they DO practice it.
Erika 6-09-2008 @ 2:00PM
Actually this is happening in the US. I live in Chicago and it happened to me yesterday at a Dominicks. I was grocery shopping with my fiancee, but he way buying and driving and I was just tagging along. We are both in our mid-thirties. They pull the six pack of beer last then asks him for his id (pretty normal), then the cashier turns and asks for mine. I told her, I wasn't buying it he was. She said it didn't matter. Let me tell you, I got pretty angry. I called the manager over and the manager finally relented on letting us buy (I was raising a stink about my rights being violated - I am not purchasing, they have no right to ask me for my identification - we're not a police state yet). I, in fact, called them on this, asking what would happen if we were shopping with children. Needless to say, they kinda stuttered on it. Today, I've been looking for others with this issue and its suddenly been popping up all over the US too. The only law there is, is that the purchaser must be 21. We paid for our groceries, then told the grocer that would be the last they saw of us.
Nancy 5-15-2008 @ 3:10PM
As a Teenager trying to get someone to buy beer or wine for me, I always waited outside the store! And believe me, it was NOT a parent.
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A 5-15-2008 @ 5:19PM
Hmmm... so many thoughts.
I mean... you could just send your kid off towards the exit or something.
Or maybe just leave the kid in the car for a while I shop.
Cheerio!
A
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jerry 5-19-2008 @ 11:33AM
how stupid to suggest leaving your children in the car while you do grocery shopping that includes beer.
you CAN and in some places WILL get arrested and go to jail for having your unattended children in your vehicle.
why cant the store ask for ID from the parent if REALLY necessary?
altho i think that is ridiculous
Judy 5-16-2008 @ 3:02PM
I agree they're going to lose business. We buy wine at our grocery store frequently, and I'm not going to go shopping separately so that I don't have my kids with me. What about single parents? Are they not allowed to have a drink for fear they might share with their kids?
This is ridiculous.
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Er 5-19-2008 @ 6:20AM
There are plenty of laws that are just excuses to get people off for the crimes they've done. How about not being allowed to ask someone if they're here legally or anything similar to that - i.e. an officer or other law enforcement can't ask or find out from someone if they're breaking the law!!
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Laurang57 5-19-2008 @ 6:26AM
Is this in the North? In GA. a person can not take a child a Liquor store at all. But, in Hackensack,NJ. parents can take there kids in the store and buy hard liquor and beer. It just amazes me...I agree they should NOT sell any liquor if kids are with them.
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Chas 5-19-2008 @ 6:46AM
safe better than sorry. why not? we're starting to get more aware of cleanning up some of the mess we've made.
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Lisa 5-19-2008 @ 6:59AM
I think there is something to be said for children learning responsible drinking by seeing the behavior in their children. It's better for my children to see me drink a glass of wine on occassion than to grow up thinking that I don't drink at all.
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mmc 5-19-2008 @ 11:23AM
HUH??? You mean because I don't drink at all, my son will think something is wrong? Your comment is ridiculous, to say the least.
Lzy 5-19-2008 @ 12:30PM
I agree! Children need to be taught how to use alcohol responsibly. They also need to know what can happen if used irresponsibly.
It is better for kids to have age appropriate accurate information and honest education on all subjects (alcohol, drugs, sex), not just hide reality from them.
Lisa 5-19-2008 @ 3:33PM
mmc,
You are apparently choosing to be obtuse. Honesty is better than lying. Modeling good behavior is the best way to teach children. I know people whose children never see them drink because they don't want to send "the wrong message", but eventually the children will find out that their parents DO drink (responsibly or not) and think it's something they need to cover up, or just feel outright betrayed. My children (ages 7 and 11) are there when I buy a bottle of wine IF they are shopping with me when I purchase it. They see me drink a glass with or after dinner sometimes. They know that there are people who drink too much and that they are not being responsible.
I was referring to the hypocritical parents, but you already knew that.