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| Photo: Colognid |
It is common knowledge that the legal drinking age in the UK is 18. This legislation also states that an individual knowingly purchasing alcohol on behalf of someone under the age of 18 is breaking the law.
However, what does the law say in regards to purchasing alcohol from a supermarket, intended for personal consumption, whilst your children are present at the time of purchase? (For instance, whilst on your weekly food shop with your children?)
There appears to be an increasing culture of what the Daily Mail described as "over-zealous supermarket staff" refusing the purchase of alcohol to parents accompanied by their own children. But, is "over-zealous" a fair description? Are they not, in fact, just following the law?
"Workers have been told not to serve adults accompanied by children in the latest crack-down on underage drinking..." the Daily Mail report says.
"However, diligent shop staff are applying the letter of the law and refusing to serve parents who are on weekly shopping trips with their children".
Diane Binns, 52 from Lincoln was met with a similar refusal to be sold alcohol in her local supermarket earlier this week.
"It seems absurd that a parent should be refused alcohol whilst in the company of their children. I see it as a judgement on my character and I find that very offensive".
Mrs Binns was refused the sale of a bottle of Rosé wine whilst in the company of her two children (20 and 18), because neither of them had their ID with them when challenged.
A Morrisons spokesperson said: "We have a strict 'Challenge 25' agenda which we uphold throughout our stores"."We don't have an issue in regards to parents shopping with children; it's legal to do that, we do have a an issue with alcohol being passed from adults to underage children and it is our policy to refuse purchase if we suspect evidence of this".
The Challenge 25 slogan is "No Proof of Age - No Sale!"
This an identical policy to that of TESCO who say: "We are doing lots of work to try to stop under-age people from being able to get hold of alcohol and one of the biggest problems has become adults buying for people who are under-age."
"If our staff suspect that people are buying for people who are under the age of 18 then we do not serve them."
ASDA have also implemented a Challenge 25 programme which they say "...help[s] colleagues stay on the right side of the law."
It seems that whilst this may appear to be a hindrance to the customer, these policies are in place in accordance with the Licensing Act 2003.
The Challenge 25 scheme, first launched in 2004/5, comes with the full backing of local authorities including the Police and local councils and is something we are all going to have to get used to and be prepared for.
By Benjamin Yates
Sources:
Picture 1: http://www.flickr.com/people/colognid/
Picture 2: http://www.liftoff-festival.com/p/rules.html
