The Dean

http://www.kentonline.co.uk/kentonli...cohol_row.aspx

Did you know that it is illegal for a supermarket to sell alcohol to an adult if she is accompanied by under-age children??? Me neither......

If I'm reading this right, the check-out staff can be fined 80 pounds if they do so.....

mikewot

Correct. Check out staff fined a small amount and store fined a huge amount plus potentially lose their licence. Hence so many UK supermarkets asking for ID if you look under 25.

scrubbedexpat141

I had this row once. Had booze for a BBQ my Dad was having and was there with someone who worked for him and his 16yr old son.

I was paying (19ish I think) and was told that neither I or the 40-something year old bloke would be served because we were with his younger son.

Absolutely ****ing ridiculous.

The Dean

Which is why it's stupid - a 39-year-old woman can't buy booze if she has her kids with her.....

scrubbedexpat141

Couldn't list the millions of times I've been in a shop with Mum or Dad and they've bought wine etc.

Bahtatboy

Quite right, provided they've been properly trained. Its the best way to implement such laws. Same as smoking in pubs: who gets the biggest fine? The landlord. Does it make the law effective? It certainly does.

But no, I didn't know. Certainly my local up-market supermarket in Ilkley doesn't apply it.

Edit to say that I think the law's nuts, but that if its to be enforced, then that's the best way of doing it.

mikewot

The reason this was brought about was because some halfwits would be asked by kids to buy booze for them (used to be fags when I were a lad) and they'd go into the store together, DUH!

The Dean

What sort of adult would say 'yes' to that sort of request?? Not me.

auzdafluff

Yup. And the checkout staff face six months in prison if the court proves they knowingly sold alcohol to an adult with a minor in their presence.

It's aimed at stopping adults from buying alcohol for minors. (By the way; minors are classed as anyone that looks under 25 (by the sole discretion of the checkout staff) unless they can prove they are over 18.

It's also the law that if that checkout employee witnessed an adult taking cash from minors and they subsequently attempt to purchase alcohol, then they have to legally refuse or risk being fined and/or jailed.

When I worked at an Asda during uni, I was a checkout runner. I frequently had to step in an refuse sales where there was an adult and a child. Often explaining the law to them made little difference.

But you have to remember that selling can result in six month in jail and a criminal record. Listening to you bitch and moan for two minutes is nothing compared to that threat.

Meow

So the adults just have to leave the kids in a hot car outside when they want to buy the evil booze then?

auzdafluff

You'd be surprised. My shifts were mainly evenings on Monday-Thursday, with a Sunday daytime shift. I didn't see too many people buying alcohol, but the stories I heard from my weekend colleagues were shocking.

They clocked at least ten people a night on a Friday and Saturday accepting money from kids to buy alcohol.

auzdafluff

Isn't illegal to leave kids unattended in cars in the UK too?

auzdafluff

You're about my age right? 27?

The law only came in when we were 21 (2006-ish).

Meow

Probably, but I was being sarcastic.


So what are adults with children supposed to do if they want to buy alcohol. Hire a babysitter so they can go to the shop? Daft.

auzdafluff

Also, another interesting legal tidbit. Because supermarkets revoke their rights over the car parks (mainly so they're not liable for any damage caused to your car while it's parked there), it also means they legally have no right to remove the kids who are asking for alcohol from their doorsteps.

It's considered public land, and so not private property.