Not More Reasons to Shop at Morrisons

Last week my Brother was in Morrisons while we were, my daughter was talking to him as he went through the checkouts, the staff issued him through their challenge 25 process and point blank refused to serve him alcohol, despite the fact he worked in that store until 6 weeks ago and they knew him by name.

I sent Morrisons a complaint, he's written his own, it's the implications they stated that are total rubbish, beware if you have any children and intend to buy anything they will challenge you on as they point blank will not back down.
Here's what I wrote, further on is their useless reply.

I believe the store did not exercise sensible use of their over 25 rule tonight. I, My wife and daughter (12) went in the store to get a few supplies, my brother (who previously worked for this store) was with us, he picked up his shopping and in there was a bottle of alcohol, along with coffee and other supplies, my wife and I went through one checkout, my brother went through another and my daughter was with him. She was helping him pack his bags and the store refused to serve my brother alcohol unless she could prove she was above 25. 

I believe the supervisor was Lisa ? They 100% refused to serve him even though he told them my daughter was not with him, just standing with him while he got his shopping.

In the ensuing argument Lisa and another staff member insisted they had done nothing wrong and despite me saying in that case you CANNOT sell alcohol to anyone who has a child with them as in your own words you were not sure if she would drink any.

I pointed out the store thought nothing of selling 6 large cans of Monster drink to my daughter and Lisa said "that's because it is not illegal", however that drink can have serious impact on your health so the rule seems simple, the store recognized my brother and simply wanted to be obstructive. 

I asked Lisa and the girl at the cigarette counter, "OK , if she was with him and he wanted to by himself some cigarettes would you serve him ? ", the answer "NO", I declared then is is blatant and simple discrimination, of course you can challenge someone purchasing, and I back this 100% but as I tried to point out you cannot under any circumstances sell any family or person alcohol, cigarettes or sharp items if they have a teenager with them, lest they touch, consume or otherwise partake of these items outside the store.

At the end of the day I saw other families packing shopping without challenge, I asked "What about scouts and young children packing for charity ?" - The answer "they are different" - NO I disagree, you cannot make the rules up as you go along, why is it OK for a 9 year old scout to handle 10 bottles of wine, knifes or solvents when a supervised member of your own family cannot ? 

It's clear to me that although they thought they were following the 25 rule they simply wanted to make a point that in fairness only serves to embarrass Morrisons.

I've no doubt Lisa will put a totally different side to the story but there's nothing to stop someone buying a bottle of alcohol and handing it to minor outside the store, or what if my brother had packed the bag and my daughter inadvertently carried it ?

As I clearly said to Lisa you're being a Jobsworth, your taking a problem that does not exist and bending the rules to suit yourself.. If this is your policy then I will make sure I keep an eye out over the coming weeks, if I see ANY family with children who look suitable then I will challenge Morrisons staff to ask why they have not refused to sell them the alcohol, surely this is just as stupid and pointless ? 

You are coming to the busiest time of the year, surely families cannot bring ID around for children, nor will they be able to separate bags at the checkout so minors do not see or touch such items, we cannot logically exist in such a state, the controls need to be sensible and meaningful otherwise these rules are worthless and no one will benefit from the obvious positives in stopping people buying such items. 

Perhaps even the most absurd part was when I said my daughter was now coming home with us, my brother was going his own way, would you now sell him the alcohol the answer was an abrupt "NO", it was clearly stated "We CANNOT reverse or change anything once a challenge has been issued", common sense it appears does not apply to these people ? 

We ate at a pub earlier in the day, perhaps they should have refused to serve us alcohol as well seeing as my daughter was with us, in fairness they are not to know that she might or might not touch the glass. Lisa will no doubt say I swore at her, I clearly said the issue was "Bo!!ocks" and stand by that, I have never ever heard such a jobsworth answer and simple attempt to obstruct someone, singled out amongst an entire store. 

I also clearly told her that she cannot discriminate, the store MUST challenge every single parent or person in this situation to satisfy her answer that they are following the rules they MUST follow in all instances, you cannot single someone out and then say one thing is ok and one thing isn't, the next step if we don't use common sense is not selling someone a clothes line in case they use it to end their life - the limits need to be common sense, not opinion and it will do little for customer loyalty to deter people from buying things because their children of nieces are with them. 

The irony is that perhaps in a year my wife and I might have one drink, so out of all the people you could have an argument with the most teetotal is not the one to pick. 

I welcome a response on this but I accept you won't do anything, you will believe Lisa and the checkout operator at the time acted in the correct interests and you'll do it again and again, upsetting people who did nothing more than buy a present for someone else (or attempt to) and happened to have someone with them in the store, although it's not safe in my mind to leave them outside in the dark. 

I've seen this issue many times tonight in news articles returned in a quick Google search, perhaps it's time you advise the stores to use a bit of common sense. 

Morrisons - very predictable reply

Thank you for contacting us.

I was most concerned to learn of the poor service you received from our staff members at our store when your brother attempted to purchase alcohol.

  

Our aim is to make your experience at Morrisons as pleasant as possible and on this occasion I am sorry that you feel that we have let you down and I would like to take the opportunity to apologise for any inconvenience caused.

If we believe that the customer is under 25, or we suspect, or knowingly know that the alcohol could be bought for anyone under age then the cashier has the right to ask, challenge or refuse the sale.

I can only apologise that you feel we may have been over zealous in our approach. I can assure you that no discourtesy was intended however, I hope you now understand our reasons for the refusal .

Thank you again for taking the time to contact us.  We really do take the utmost care to look after our customers well and I do hope that we can be of service to you again in the future.

Kind regards,

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Customer Services Department
Wm Morrison Supermarkets PLC

This reply is actually wrong, they don't understand what happened , have not read the full letter and don't give a shit.

The under 25 rule is voluntary, the stores do it because they are at risk of loosing their alcohol license, perhaps they think a few customers who walk away is a small price to pay, however the quote about refusing to sell cigarettes just shows they have no idea.

Although it is illegal to sell them to a minor there is no legal age for smoking in the UK, they cannot stop an adult if they chose to give a cigarette to anyone under 18, in fact if a parent wanted to give wine to their child that is also legal in the UK, you cannot give alcohol to under 5, you cannot give spirits to under 18 but Morrisons have no right to adopt a high and mighty self styled moral high ground simply because they think you might possible just might give some to a minor.

What's next ?
Refusing to sell you peanuts in case you give them to someone with a nut allergy ? 
Refusing to sell you cling film in case you put it over you lovers face and suffocate them ?
Refusing to sell you a TV in case your children watch 18 rated films ?

Come on Morrisons GET A FUCKING GRIP and realize you are being over zealous and you are totally out of order just because you wanted to upset an Ex-employee.
Ask yourself why did he leave? That might help you understand what's wrong with your store.

Everyone else, brace yourselves if you get challenged, they will NOT back down despite the staff not knowing the UK law.

HERE is the UK Law on both aspects, Morrisons, you should get your staff to read it particularly the very unhelpful, arrogant and morally self centered Lisa who I hope I never speak to again.

Before the age of 18, you are not allowed to buy alcohol in pubs or shops, drink alcohol in pubs or outside in public places.  It is also unlawful for anyone else to buy alcohol for you if you are under 18 and the drink will be consumed in a pub or public place.  
However, if you're aged 16 or 17, you are allowed to drink wine, beer, or cider (but not other alcohol) with a meal in a restaurant, hotel or part of a pub set apart for eating meals. You can only do this if someone aged 18 or over is with you at the meal and buys the alcohol.
Any child aged five or over can drink alcohol at home or on other private premises but it is usually against the law to give alcohol to a child under five.
It's illegal to sell cigarettes, tobacco or cigarette papers to anyone under 18, but it is not a criminal offence for a person under 18 to smoke.
I rest my case that Lisa is incorrect in her statement not to sell cigarettes if my brother chose to buy them and my daughter was with him, how can they possibly uphold this?
One really funny part was when I asked how they thought my daughter could possibly pay for any alcohol when she has no funds or means to do so, apparently that's not important, she had no ID (being 12) and so they refused to sell a 31 year old man some.

I laugh at the stupidity and overall ignorance of Morrisons for their attempt to Police our lives at this level when it is not justified.

I really think the World has gone mad !