General Chat

GORDON BROWN SAYS HES GOING TO COME DOWN ON SHOPKEEPERS FOR SELLING ALCOHOL TO UNDERAGE PEEPS.WHATS YOUR OPINION.
SHOULD THE KIDS BE FINED TOO.OR JUST SHOPKEEPERS.
HOW DO SHOPKEEPERS TELL.???
YOUR OPINIONS PLEASEXX

this is a hard one
as lots of kids look older than they are
but i think fine them both

Hi Joy, i think the kids should be fined as well, i have run pubs for 22 yrs and it has gor harder and harder to tell if they are of age.
The prove it cards are a waste of time as they can be forged or worse still gotten by fraudulent means.
Its ok blaming the shopkeepers but the government should put in some kind of id card that cannot be tampered with.
Wendy.xxxx

Yes the kids should be fined, but so should the shopkeepers also. They should really ask for ID for anyone who is or appears to be under 30.

I have known someone of 27 who was refused alcohol in a pub, not because we didn't all vouch for her, but simply because she didn't have ID on her which would have proved her age.

If pub landlords can do it, so can shopkeepers. In fact, if shopkeepers are found to have sold to under 18's maybe they should automatically have their license taken away, that will make them think twice about whether it is good for business or not.

*gets down off soapbox and bows to audience*

I worked in the spar shopand we were all told how to ask for ID and what to accept and not accept. It is very hard to make the right decision so if in doubt it is better to refuse. We had to write all the refusals down in a book in case any legal person wanted to know who we sold to etc. The book got filled very quickly. It is the sales assistant that has teh short straw. It is a big responsibility serving the public with alcohol and tobacco but they only get paid the minimum wage. You should hear some of the abuse that we have had for refusing to serve people.
But its not just selling to under age. THere are other clauses. Like you can not serve a policeman on duty etc.

Fine them both..... and give all kids some sort of ID from a younger age, so that the shopkeeper can expect some sort of ID.....

I agree that most (especially the girls) look a lot older than they are. But then again, if an under age wnats to get hold of alcohol then they will always find a way..... sadly

Clare x

Having worked in a shop and refused to serve anyone who seemed underage and had no ID I know it is difficult to get it right all the time.

As a parent I think the shop owner, the youngster buying alcohol and their parent/s should all be fined.............might make some parents see their offspring are not as innocent as they think they are.

xx

yes bagpuss they will always find a way like asking an older person to buy it for them but then the sales assistant is not allowed to sell to a person whom she may suspect is buying it for an under age person. So yet again it falls down to the shop assistant.

Close all the offys down,,,,,,,,,then it could only be got from pub offsales or supermarkets,,,,,,,,,fine them both if the kids have money for booze then let them pay the fine,,,shopkeekers have hard time telling the ages of some,,plus often the aged person buys for their mates underage,,,so coming down on ALL shopkeepers wont really solve the problem as they will get it by other means,,

Hiya Joyous, deja vous lol!


I was married to a licensee for several years and lived above the shop. He was in court for serving a girl before the ID rule. The judge saw her in court, 16 looking 20 and threw the case out.

My Dad and brother also ran a shop. It is a very difficult job. The adults supplying the kids are the real problem,

Caz xxx

ive just grabbed a handfull of ID application forms from my uni.its called citizen card.its £9 for a card.it must be good if the uni have the forms.
and i agree who originally breaks the law,the shopkeeper or the customer.hmmmmm

It must be difficult. Daughter's boyfriend has been asked for ID from shopkeepers, in pubs, even when trying to get into a club.
You may ask why he hasn't got ID.
Well, at 6ft 4ins and aged 33 he just doesn't see why he should!!!


maggie

i know what you mean maggie,but if it stops youngsters from getting drunk,when there far to young to be drinking i think its worth it ,my son got told he could,nt buy fags,hes 25 with a goatie.lol.and a daughter of 7.xxx