just called in Lidl in Fev for a few things with my 15 year old son and decide to get a few bottles of beer. Got to till and lad serving asked said Can I see your Id. I said are you daft in 41. Not you him he said. I told the lad my son was 15 and didn’t have any if the beer is for. Lad says well it could be for him so I need to see his Id. He doesn’t frigging have any he’s 15. So he refused to sell me the beer because i wa with my son. I said what if he goes and sits in the car, that a no too. Asked if he will always refuse to sell to me now he knows I have a 15 year old son it could always be for him. Then ridiculously Said it’s law he can’t sell me alcohol while I’m with a child who looks he’s old enough to have alcohol bought for him. ?????? Lol
You could give your 15 year old son alcohol in your own home if you so wished, this isn't illegal. However retailers can reserve the right to refuse the sale of alcohol to an adult if they’re accompanied by a child and think the alcohol is being bought for the child.
It's not the law - almost certainly a case of the guy at the till being poorly trained, or misunderstanding the training that he was given. Then again, on a licensed premises they're entitled to serve who they want to - it's possible that he did think the alcohol was being bought for the son, and given that is within his right to refuse to serve. On balance, though, I suspect a training issue.
Jobsworth n chuffin crackers ! Give them till boys a little bit of authority and they go power crazy . I hope your lad got his beer in the end btw .
The lad has completely misunderstood the rule. You should have just politely asked to speak to the manager.
Unfortunately once the request for ID has been made then it becomes a tricky legal situation. Even without that, as a DPS myself (although in the on trade) I'd always back my staff up on a request for ID, even if the customer had a four foot white beard and a walking stick. In a situation where the law is broken, the punishment is applied to the member of staff serving. I don't agree with that but, given that it's the case, I think they're within their rights to refuse service whenever they deem it appropriate. I'd probably give them a training session afterwards, mind!
My husband has been refused when with me if he has had ID but I haven't, and vice versa (although he usually has his as it's just in his wallet). It's happened so often that I now leave the shop if we're buying alcohol and I don't have it with me so he can't be questioned. Once they have asked they can't back down. I always wondered what happened about parents and kids.
I must admit I can't quote the law and I'd probably back my member of staff in the event of a challenge but in this situation, where the challenge is against somebody with the person purchasing alcohol (who is clearly old enough), I would probably take a different view.
I'd give anything to be asked for ID when buying alcohol. The only time I get asked for ID is when I'm using my senior railcard. ******.
It pissed me off. My son is just 15. Not like he’s 17 nearly 18. I wouldn’t be buying my 15 year old son alcohol. It’s annoyed me that he even thought I’d be buying him it. He kept saying I need to see his ID before I can sell you it. I said he’s 15 so he ain’t got any ID. It’s for me. Do you actually think I’m buy this for a 15 year old. There was quite a big queue and everyone was shaking their heads and saying it was daft. I didn’t ask to see the manager as it was very busy but I will have a word when it’s more quiet.