In any other situation, Jason Wilde might have been flattered to be mistaken for a teenager.
But when the 33-year-old was refused a bottle of wine at his local Tesco it left him humiliated and angry.
An overzealous staff member refused to serve him when he was unable to prove his age because he did not have identification.
Jason Wilde, 33, was refused a bottle of wine at Tesco because he was unable to prove his age. His 29-year-old fiancee, Lorraine Thomas, was not allowed to buy it either on the grounds that she may have been purchasing alcohol for a minor
Jason Wilde, 33, was refused a bottle of wine at Tesco because he was unable to prove his age. His 29-year-old fiancee, Lorraine Thomas, was not allowed to buy it either on the grounds that she may have been purchasing alcohol for a minor
And although his 29-year-old fiancee, Lorraine Thomas, stepped in with her driving licence, the supermarket refused to budge on the grounds she might be buying alcohol for a minor.
The final insult came when Mr Wilde complained to another member of staff who agreed he looked old enough to purchase alcohol but insisted the original request for ID could not be overruled.
He ended up leaving the Bar Hill superstore in Cambridgeshire - which he has visited virtually every week for the past five years with no problems - with everything in his shopping trolley except for the wine.
'Other people in the queue behind us were also looking on in complete amazement,' said Mr Wilde, a sales manager from Fenstanton, near Huntingdon.
'When you're buying £140 worth of shopping, then you're hardly likely to be underage. It wasn't like we were trying to buy six cans of dodgy cider either. It was one bottle of rose wine.
'My other half reluctantly produced her identification but we were told that because we were together and I didn't have any ID, then we could not buy alcohol - even though I am 15 years over the legal age limit.
'I thought someone was winding me up. I spoke to a member of staff at the customer services who agreed that I didn't look under 25 but she said that there was no way she could overrule her colleague.'
He added: 'Things have got a bit ridiculous. What happens if someone goes shopping with their two-year-old child?
'Will they be refused service because they might be buying alcohol for them?'
The incident on May 17 is the latest example of shops overreacting to rules that state if they sell alcohol to minors three times in three months they face a £10,000 fine and a three-month suspension of their licence.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... z0ot2HmnCL
Jobsworth and youthful looks
Jobsworth and youthful looks
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
Re: Jobsworth and youthful looks
In stores in Ontario that sell alcohol and/or cigarettes, there are signs posted that say "If you look like you might be under 30, you will be asked for I.D."
The penalties for selling alcohol to minors are severe, and if it happens, there is virtually no defence. You can't blame store clerks for being excessively cautious, and a 33 year old should have developed sufficient intelligence to understand that, and just stfu and come back with the proper i.d. It's not his livelihood or freedom on the line if someone mistakenly sells to a minor.
The penalties for selling alcohol to minors are severe, and if it happens, there is virtually no defence. You can't blame store clerks for being excessively cautious, and a 33 year old should have developed sufficient intelligence to understand that, and just stfu and come back with the proper i.d. It's not his livelihood or freedom on the line if someone mistakenly sells to a minor.
"The dildo of consequence rarely comes lubed." -- Eileen Rose
Re: Jobsworth and youthful looks
Should his fiance have been refused service too, as she had proof she was 29...
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
Re: Jobsworth and youthful looks
Once someone who could be underage has been refused service, anyone with them who is of age will come under suspicion of buying for the person who could be underage. The penalty to the storekeeper in such cases would be the same.
"The dildo of consequence rarely comes lubed." -- Eileen Rose
Re: Jobsworth and youthful looks
I don't think this guy could be seen as under 18 by anyone sane.
But even so, with a legitimate purchase being requested by a proven 29 year old, surely if they had any fears that the 29 year old was going to give it to the alleged "under age" 33 yr old, then they should have reported her to the cops.
But of course they wouldn't do that as they'd look complete idiots
But even so, with a legitimate purchase being requested by a proven 29 year old, surely if they had any fears that the 29 year old was going to give it to the alleged "under age" 33 yr old, then they should have reported her to the cops.
But of course they wouldn't do that as they'd look complete idiots
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
Re: Jobsworth and youthful looks
I just got carded again this evening (Oops, been buying booze) I take it as a compliment at my age...
Re: Jobsworth and youthful looks
We have the same rules -- if you look like you're under 30, you get asked for ID. Also, everyone in the party must have ID and be of age, or no sale.
“I ask no favor for my sex. All I ask of our brethren is that they take their feet off our necks.” ~ Ruth Bader Ginsburg, paraphrasing Sarah Moore Grimké
Re: Jobsworth and youthful looks
That's not true I've seen parents buy liquor all the time with their children present.
That second part is a judgement call.
That second part is a judgement call.
Last edited by Crackpot on Tue May 25, 2010 10:12 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Okay... There's all kinds of things wrong with what you just said.
Re: Jobsworth and youthful looks
I wonder if the rule is as explicit as that in the UK, if it is then I have no problems. (Apart from the fact that the guy in no way looks under 18!)Guinevere wrote:We have the same rules -- if you look like you're under 30, you get asked for ID. Also, everyone in the party must have ID and be of age, or no sale.
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”