Supermarket asks 42-year-old for ID - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

waichingliu81 · 08-17-2009, 03:49 PM

Monday, August 17 2009, 16:22 BST

By Daniel Kilkelly, Entertainment Reporter

A 42-year-old woman has expressed anger after being asked to provide ID at a supermarket checkout.

Mother-of-three Wendy Arrowsmith was shopping at Sainsbury's in Brixham, Devon with her 9-year-old daughter Charlotte when she was asked to prove her age to buy alcohol.

According to the Daily Express, the worker in question refused to serve wine and brandy to Arrowsmith when she admitted that she had no identification with her. It is believed that a supervisor then backed the decision.

Speaking to the newspaper, Arrowsmith complained: "I thought it was a joke at first. I may look a bit younger than my true age but it was ridiculous. I'm all for company policy but it's also important for people to use their common sense.

"I found the whole episode really insulting. I feel they were over-zealous. The senior staff are paid enough to make a common-sense decision."

A Sainsbury's spokesperson refused to apologise for the row, explaining: "We have taken extensive advice to prevent children under the age of 18 buying alcohol.

"We operate a 'Think 25' policy where colleagues are trained to ask for ID from anyone they think looks younger than 25. This reduces the chances of alcohol mistakenly being sold to someone under the age of 18."

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/odd/a172...ld-for-id.html

Chocoholic · 08-17-2009, 03:52 PM

I can sort of understand where she's coming from. I'm 28, but often get mistaken for a lot younger. However, I do think she's overreacting a little bit. She should take it as a compliment and move on. At least they didn't ask her if she wanted the senior discount

MickeyMac · 08-17-2009, 03:53 PM

I get carded from time to time when I buy alcohol. One time I asked why and I was told so they could ring it up on the cash register. I am assuming thats true because I look like I am over 21.

waichingliu81 · 08-17-2009, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chocoholic

I can sort of understand where she's coming from. I'm 28, but often get mistaken for a lot younger. However, I do think she's overreacting a little bit. She should take it as a compliment and move on. At least they didn't ask her if she wanted the senior discount

i think that what she should've done is instead of complaining to go to another store. there are people who look younger but are in the 30s, 40s, 50s and vice versa with those in their 20s.

sometimes, you cannot tell how old someone is and so often you would ask for ID as proof. if i was in a similar situation, i would calmly go about it in a civil manner and not cause a scene and produce my passport.

browneyes106 · 08-17-2009, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MickeyMac

I get carded from time to time when I buy alcohol. One time I asked why and I was told so they could ring it up on the cash register. I am assuming thats true because I look like I am over 21.

I'm 24 but I look younger than my age and it always get carded. One of my friends had a weekend job at a convenient store last year and he said some business have register systems that need to have a birth date entered in on items like alcohol, cigarettes and R rated movies.

browneyes106 · 08-17-2009, 04:46 PM

I think the woman is overreacting a bit. Employees sometimes want to do their best at their jobs and not mess up so I can understand carding. Last year New Mexico enacted a law that prohibits minors from buying spray paint at stores. My mom and aunt went to buy spray paint at a store and my mom was carded the cashier explained the new law to her. My mom thought it was weird that she was carded but she wasn't upset about it.

Marvo301 · 08-17-2009, 05:24 PM

Having worked in customer service for years I can tell you it's a no win situation when it comes to asking for I.D.. Especially with female customers. If you don't ask then they're offended that you didn't think they were young enough looking to ask. If you do ask then they over react like this lady. That being said, the consequences of selling alcohol, tobacco, etc. to minors can be quite severe to both the employee and the business which is why they rely on official documentation and not common sense. It's a matter of protecting their own interests.

phoebe7165 · 08-17-2009, 06:26 PM

First of all, she should've had her ID. Don't know about there, but here in the states, you're required by law to have your ID on you at all times.

Second, she just didn't overreact a little bit, she overreacted alot!!

I'm also in my 40's and I get told I look younger than I am quite often. I also get carded occasionally, and that makes my day!!

waichingliu81 · 08-17-2009, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marvo301

Having worked in customer service for years I can tell you it's a no win situation when it comes to asking for I.D.. Especially with female customers. If you don't ask then they're offended that you didn't think they were young enough looking to ask. If you do ask then they over react like this lady. That being said, the consequences of selling alcohol, tobacco, etc. to minors can be quite severe to both the employee and the business which is why they rely on official documentation and not common sense. It's a matter of protecting their own interests.

which is why it is the law for stores not to sell alcohol, tobacco to anyone who is under 18 or who looks underage. i think her reaction is silly, given as she should be aware of the 'think 25' policy that we have in the uk. i think therefore that sainburys made the correct decision. if she had some form of ID on her and produced it when asked, then the situation wouldn't have got ugly later on.

Janice · 08-17-2009, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phoebe7165

First of all, she should've had her ID. Don't know about there, but here in the states, you're required by law to have your ID on you at all times.

Is that true? I always go out without an ID.

Regarding the supermarket, I think they're complete morons. The woman probably looks 32, at the youngest. For a store to put a customer through that...and lose the sale and most likely the customer too is very short-sighted and rude on their part.

Marvo301 · 08-17-2009, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janice

Is that true? I always go out without an ID.

Regarding the supermarket, I think they're complete morons. The woman probably looks 32, at the youngest. For a store to put a customer through that...and lose the sale and most likely the customer too is very short-sighted and rude on their part.

Speaking as a former customer service worker I'd rather lose a sale than lose my job! (which is one of the potential penalties for selling alcohol or tobacco to a minor)

Janice · 08-17-2009, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marvo301

Speaking as a former customer service worker I'd rather lose a sale than lose my job!

I'm sure this woman didn't look anywhere near 17 or even 25. Any store that would fire an employee for not selling liquor to a person in their 30s (40s?) is insane. I was a bartender for years. I knew who to card. If I ever refused service to someone in their 30s, that would have cost me my job. This stupidmarket fails to realize that they're a dime a dozen. People simply take their business elsewhere. In this economy, just stupid, beyond stupid.

Mr. Television · 08-17-2009, 07:52 PM

We have a blockbuster here in town. I used to always walk up there and buy movies all the time. Well about 5 or 6 years ago the salesperson wouldn't sell me a movie because I didn't have ID. I left it home. It was very embarrassing and I've never been back sense. I've been in other stores and bought movies and I've never been carded. Hell I was probably 20 years older than that salesperson. It was ridiculous. I wasn't going to walk home which would have been about a 20 minute walk and then go back up there for that. They lost a customer. I probably spent over a hundred dollars a month in that store too. Some of the other employees there knew me but they said it was the new rules. Everyone gets carded. Hell one of the movies I had was a PG-13 movie and I couldn't even get that out.

catlover79 · 08-17-2009, 08:40 PM

I used to work in the ticket booth at a movie theater and had to card people all the time. Not just for R-rated movies, but for all credit card purchases. I actually did card a woman for an R-rated movie once who was over 40 - she didn't look it a bit!! I was so embarrassed (

) but she really was happy!! She was thrilled that she got carded and looked so young. Needless to say, I was very relieved.

Janice · 08-17-2009, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clint Eastwood Fan

We have a blockbuster here in town. I used to always walk up there and buy movies all the time. Well about 5 or 6 years ago the salesperson wouldn't sell me a movie because I didn't have ID. I left it home. It was very embarrassing and I've never been back sense. I've been in other stores and bought movies and I've never been carded. Hell I was probably 20 years older than that salesperson. It was ridiculous. I wasn't going to walk home which would have been about a 20 minute walk and then go back up there for that. They lost a customer. I probably spent over a hundred dollars a month in that store too. Some of the other employees there knew me but they said it was the new rules. Everyone gets carded. Hell one of the movies I had was a PG-13 movie and I couldn't even get that out.

I don't blame you for taking your business elsehwere. I've managed two restaurants, and what was important was the bottom line. We never, ever served minors, and carded whenever there was any doubt about anyone's age. Still, had an employee carded someone who looked to be in at least their 30s, I would apologize to the patron, give them a free dessert and tell the Barney Fife worker to take it down a notch or ten.

08-17-2009, 03:49 PM	#1
waichingliu81 debbie allen Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 28, 2006 Location: london, england, UK Posts: 4,347	Supermarket asks 42-year-old for ID Monday, August 17 2009, 16:22 BST By Daniel Kilkelly, Entertainment Reporter A 42-year-old woman has expressed anger after being asked to provide ID at a supermarket checkout. Mother-of-three Wendy Arrowsmith was shopping at Sainsbury's in Brixham, Devon with her 9-year-old daughter Charlotte when she was asked to prove her age to buy alcohol. According to the Daily Express, the worker in question refused to serve wine and brandy to Arrowsmith when she admitted that she had no identification with her. It is believed that a supervisor then backed the decision. Speaking to the newspaper, Arrowsmith complained: "I thought it was a joke at first. I may look a bit younger than my true age but it was ridiculous. I'm all for company policy but it's also important for people to use their common sense. "I found the whole episode really insulting. I feel they were over-zealous. The senior staff are paid enough to make a common-sense decision." A Sainsbury's spokesperson refused to apologise for the row, explaining: "We have taken extensive advice to prevent children under the age of 18 buying alcohol. "We operate a 'Think 25' policy where colleagues are trained to ask for ID from anyone they think looks younger than 25. This reduces the chances of alcohol mistakenly being sold to someone under the age of 18." http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/odd/a172...ld-for-id.html

08-17-2009, 05:24 PM	#7
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,460	Having worked in customer service for years I can tell you it's a no win situation when it comes to asking for I.D.. Especially with female customers. If you don't ask then they're offended that you didn't think they were young enough looking to ask. If you do ask then they over react like this lady. That being said, the consequences of selling alcohol, tobacco, etc. to minors can be quite severe to both the employee and the business which is why they rely on official documentation and not common sense. It's a matter of protecting their own interests.
	__________________ Only a life lived for others is worth living. Albert Einstein A life isn't worth living unless it has impact on other lives. Jackie Robinson Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. Benjamin Franklin

08-17-2009, 06:26 PM	#8
phoebe7165 Pop Culture Goddess Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 15, 2003 Location: US of A - the country of "really bad music" lovers Posts: 11,600	First of all, she should've had her ID. Don't know about there, but here in the states, you're required by law to have your ID on you at all times. Second, she just didn't overreact a little bit, she overreacted alot!! I'm also in my 40's and I get told I look younger than I am quite often. I also get carded occasionally, and that makes my day!!
	__________________ Rest in Peace to my Penny-pie. You really were a GREAT dog. I'll see you at the Rainbow Bridge. Penny 9/1/97-12/9/09 Rescued animals make the best pets. Opt to Adopt!!

08-17-2009, 07:52 PM	#13
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	We have a blockbuster here in town. I used to always walk up there and buy movies all the time. Well about 5 or 6 years ago the salesperson wouldn't sell me a movie because I didn't have ID. I left it home. It was very embarrassing and I've never been back sense. I've been in other stores and bought movies and I've never been carded. Hell I was probably 20 years older than that salesperson. It was ridiculous. I wasn't going to walk home which would have been about a 20 minute walk and then go back up there for that. They lost a customer. I probably spent over a hundred dollars a month in that store too. Some of the other employees there knew me but they said it was the new rules. Everyone gets carded. Hell one of the movies I had was a PG-13 movie and I couldn't even get that out.
	__________________ Sonny

08-17-2009, 08:40 PM	#14
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	I used to work in the ticket booth at a movie theater and had to card people all the time. Not just for R-rated movies, but for all credit card purchases. I actually did card a woman for an R-rated movie once who was over 40 - she didn't look it a bit!! I was so embarrassed ( ) but she really was happy!! She was thrilled that she got carded and looked so young. Needless to say, I was very relieved.
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

08-17-2009, 03:52 PM	#2
Chocoholic Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 01, 2000 Location: Between a rock and a hard place. Posts: 11,235	I can sort of understand where she's coming from. I'm 28, but often get mistaken for a lot younger. However, I do think she's overreacting a little bit. She should take it as a compliment and move on. At least they didn't ask her if she wanted the senior discount

08-17-2009, 03:53 PM	#3
MickeyMac Member Forum Star Join Date: Jun 18, 2008 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan Posts: 19,008	I get carded from time to time when I buy alcohol. One time I asked why and I was told so they could ring it up on the cash register. I am assuming thats true because I look like I am over 21.

08-17-2009, 04:46 PM	#6
browneyes106 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 01, 2008 Posts: 6,094	I think the woman is overreacting a bit. Employees sometimes want to do their best at their jobs and not mess up so I can understand carding. Last year New Mexico enacted a law that prohibits minors from buying spray paint at stores. My mom and aunt went to buy spray paint at a store and my mom was carded the cashier explained the new law to her. My mom thought it was weird that she was carded but she wasn't upset about it.