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Ban on under-30s buying booze without ID

12:29pm Saturday 16th February 2008

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BORN after 1977? Wanting to buy alcohol?

Then you better make sure you are carrying some proof of your age next time you pop down to one York supermarket.

Bosses at the Askham Bar branch of Tesco, in Tadcaster Road, have introduced a new alcohol sales policy - and it means staff will challenge anyone lucky enough to look under 30 to prove their age before they can buy booze.

Since November 2005 and the introduction of the new licensing laws, the company has adhered to the Think 21 scheme, whereby staff are trained to ask anyone who looks under 21 to prove they are 18.

Now they have extended the scheme.

A spokesman for Tesco said Think 30 had been introduced at the end of January on a trial basis.

"We are running sporadic trials across the country," he said.

"When local authorities go into shops and find a 15-year-old girl has been served in a test case, it's not the case that the shop is serving young kids alcohol, it's just that staff can't always tell ages accurately.

"The issue of underage drinking is very important. We have to take this very strong line on it."

He said the supermarket giant was successful because it listened to its shoppers.

"If it proves really unpopular, with customers thinking it's ridiculous, we'll reconsider," he said.

"If customers think it's a really good idea that cuts down on underage drinking, we'll keep it."

But councillors and shoppers reacted with surprise at the draconian measures.

James Cook from The Press attempted to buy alcohol at Tesco but was stopped in his tracks.
“I was genuinely shocked to be asked for ID. I am 26 and it must be four or five years since the last time anyone asked”, he said.
“The woman behind the checkout apologised though and said that if she did not ask me then she could lose her job.
“The woman in front of me in the queue, who looked well over 30, had to leave her cider at the checkout as she had no ID. Luckily I had my driving licence on me, so avoided an embarrassing situation.”

Coun Paul Blanchard, 32, who represents Heworth on City of York Council, said: "I think this is a step too far - after all, can't there be some common sense in all of this?

"I appreciate retailers have to be careful, but there comes a point where being cautious ends and being daft begins. Asking someone for ID who is 12 years older than the minimum age is simply ridiculous."

"I got married aged 27 in Hawaii and had the first part of my honeymoon there. They have a similar policy there about IDing anyone under 30, and it was genuinely a big issue for me - very inconvenient, and on my own honeymoon too.

"The first night we were there I was wanting to order some champagne but was restricted to diet cola, as I was loathe to take my passport on a night out with me."

Tesco shopper Matthew Martin, 25, said: "It's a bit steep. I really don't see why it should be 30. You can understand their reasons for doing it, but I think it's a bit too much."

Another shopper, Mrs Styrin, 47, of Acomb, said: "I think it's cheeky. I think for 21-year-olds it's OK, but 30 is just a bit extreme. It's a bit over the top."

A spokesman for the Union of Shop, Distribution and Allied Workers, which represents some checkout assistants, said the union welcomed the new scheme.

"We support anything in the sector that reduces the sale of alcohol to young people. This sends out a message to underage drinkers that they won't get served in Tesco," he said.

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Your Say YourYork Press

plaggy terry, classic cutz heworth says...
12:53pm Sat 16 Feb 08

The stigs not gonna get served there then, asda for u from now on lol,,

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Cynic, York says...
1:37pm Sat 16 Feb 08

It would be helpful if they told us what they actually accept as ID! Given that I don't drive I don't have a driving license. Do they seriously expect non-drivers to carry passports, etc, with them when they go shopping? I'm 28 and generally don't carry any ID with a date of birth on it. Looks like it'll be Sainsbury's from now on - Im not taking part in Tesco's silly games even if it is a bit nearer to where I live.

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On the run, around town says...
1:38pm Sat 16 Feb 08

why just the taddy road one? because of the college?

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Franky, York says...
1:39pm Sat 16 Feb 08

Stupid idea.

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On the run, around town says...
1:39pm Sat 16 Feb 08

I carry my passport at all times don't know when your gonna need it,lol

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varzi, says...
1:44pm Sat 16 Feb 08

i was asked if i had any id in there (i'm 28, and people tend to think i look closer to 38). the cashier served me because she plainly thought it was a silly policy but also told me that it was because they'd failed two tests. nothing to do with a national trial

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On the run, around town says...
1:46pm Sat 16 Feb 08

is it the drinking that makes you look 38?
LOL

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Mark, York says...
1:53pm Sat 16 Feb 08

I do hope that nobody in favour of National Identity Cards objects to TESCO's stance - after all you've got nothing to hide. Thin end of the wedge!!!

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Flash, York says...
1:55pm Sat 16 Feb 08

More nanny state idea's !!

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Franky, York says...
2:18pm Sat 16 Feb 08

Mark, national ID cards are a stupid idea too.

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TG, says...
2:32pm Sat 16 Feb 08

"1984" is on at the Theatre Royal in a week or so, how appropriate.

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Moron, York says...
3:46pm Sat 16 Feb 08

The BBC new drama series "The Last Enemy" about constant surveillance could be worth watching starts BBC1 at 9pm on Sunday 17th February.

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midwifejohnson, leicester says...
4:05pm Sat 16 Feb 08

does it really matter! we should all carry i.d anyway! How would anyone know who you are in the event of an accident? It may be excessive but there are many youngsters easy able to pass for 21 especially girls!!

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Moron, York says...
4:14pm Sat 16 Feb 08

does it really matter! we should all carry i.d anyway!


You carry ID if you want to just do not force it on everyone else.

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DS, York says...
5:51pm Sat 16 Feb 08

My son tried to buy a bottle of wine on Wednesday when he went to Tesco with his 16 year old sister, he had ID his sister obviously didn't as she was under 18 they wouldn't serve him. Stupidity as he just bought everything else and went to another till to buy the wine while his sister waited outside and he didn't get asked for ID at the second till!

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dav, York says...
6:03pm Sat 16 Feb 08

I tried and failed to buy some wine today with my fiancee. Myself been 27 and having Id didn`t think there would be a problem but because my fiancee (age 26) didn`t we got refused.We were told it was because we were together, Does this mean you can`t purchase alcohol when accompanied by you children doing a weekly shop. I think the staff need a lessson in common sense. if we were a group of 18 year olds fair enough but a couple in there late twenties buying a bottle of wine things have got a bit out of control.

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DS, York says...
6:25pm Sat 16 Feb 08

Following my son been refused on Wednesday, I went with my 16 year old daughter yesterday and bought a box of Smirnoff Ice neither of us were asked for ID. Obviously I am and look well over 30!!

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punk_ian, Leeds says...
7:12pm Sat 16 Feb 08

How do I prove my age? I don't drive and don't have a passport so what do they suggest?

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Somebody, York says...
7:13pm Sat 16 Feb 08

I hope all of you who would like the staff to serve without making sure they are covered will pay their court fines and take the criminal convictions too!

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i am the stig, in my car says...
7:29pm Sat 16 Feb 08

plaggy terry wrote:
The stigs not gonna get served there then, asda for u from now on lol,,
LOL

I pretty much have my driving licence where every I go.

That said I dont buy hardly any beer from anywhere other than pubs, I'm not a fan of home drinking.

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On the run, around town says...
8:00pm Sat 16 Feb 08

i am the stig wrote:
plaggy terry wrote: The stigs not gonna get served there then, asda for u from now on lol,,
LOL I pretty much have my driving licence where every I go. That said I dont buy hardly any beer from anywhere other than pubs, I'm not a fan of home drinking.
home drinking is good

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On the run, around town says...
8:03pm Sat 16 Feb 08

punk_ian wrote:
How do I prove my age? I don't drive and don't have a passport so what do they suggest?
buy a passport,they are kinda handy

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Nimby, York says...
8:17pm Sat 16 Feb 08

If there wasn't a constant problem with kids drinking and creating a real problem in some areas shops like TESCO could be more reasonable. At the end of the day it is their name on the licence and if they lose it their revenue will go down way beyond what amounts to a small number of refused sales.

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Nimby, York says...
8:19pm Sat 16 Feb 08

If there wasn't a constant problem with kids drinking and creating a real problem in some areas shops like TESCO could be more reasonable. At the end of the day it is their name on the licence and if they lose it their revenue will go down way beyond what amounts to a small number of refused sales.

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comment, Leeds says...
8:41pm Sat 16 Feb 08

I think this is going a bit far. However if it is going to prevent people under the legal age buying alchol it might not be a bad idea. As a young looking 26 old it can be annoying to be asked for ID, but i'd rather I'm asked than someone too young failed to be asked and be drinking. However I do think there should be a law about what ID people should accept. Like others who have commented - carrying around a passport it not always practical, I don't drive so driving lisence isn't an option, I have a "Prove It" card, but not quite everywhere accepts them. If the goverment wants to have a law about how old people need to be to buy alchol (which I think is very sensible), then they should ensure that there is a cheap (prefferably free) form of ID that everyone can easily get and that all retailers accept. Ok maybe you couldn't force people accept it, but you should get close to it.

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chas, suffolk says...
8:42pm Sat 16 Feb 08

Stop the sale of alcohol, tobacco and fast foods to everybody under 60. I always carry my bus pass. What a stupid idea when you can get married, vote and fight for your country.

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the Butler, Cowichan Bay B.C Canada says...
5:06am Sun 17 Feb 08

When is this stupidity going to end?, Big brother should be interred then cremated, what boll's,Being old enough for the forces, ready for a bullet or bomb, Why can't anyone, these days do things in a sane manner?. truly chidish...

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only human, huntington says...
10:16am Sun 17 Feb 08

good old tesco...the big brother of stores....hahaha

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rodneysdog, york says...
10:59am Sun 17 Feb 08

How do young looking people like myself manage then? Over 30 and still attractive I dont want to fork out for an ID card..
Back on the wagon methinks..

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TeeBo, York says...
11:28am Sun 17 Feb 08

TESCO will do anything to ingratiate themselves with government and local councils. Is there no level to which they will stoop to avoid the attention of the regulators.

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andyb, york says...
2:02pm Sun 17 Feb 08

rodneysdog wrote:
How do young looking people like myself manage then? Over 30 and still attractive I dont want to fork out for an ID card..
Back on the wagon methinks..
Be honest now Rodney

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partario, York says...
2:53pm Sun 17 Feb 08

I heard that the reason why Tescos were doing this check was because they'd been caught out selling to underage kids. Of course this could just be rumours.

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viper, says...
2:57pm Sun 17 Feb 08

This is just how it is in the US. You could be 60 and will still be asked for ID.
It's getting to the point in this country, licensees just won't take the risk of losing their license and been handed a huge fine.
I'd take it a step further so there is no doubt - Whatever your age/appearance; no proof, no alcohol/cigs.

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chas, suffolk says...
4:31pm Sun 17 Feb 08

Thirty to buy alcohol. £10 licence to buy cigarettes. When is a scheme to buy cream buns and chocolates coming in. We are not being controlled, are we?

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John, says...
5:51pm Sun 17 Feb 08

Yet another example of the " control society". If it's not the Government it's Tesco, or the Police , the Council with their so called " Safety Partnerships (who knows who controls them? ) who are all restricting our basic rights and freedoms with CCTV and ever growing data bases. The mindless and the gormless don't object, usually with that idiot statement " if you are not doing wrong there is no need to worry".
I do not support underage drinking, street crime etc but we have a legal system that is being corrupted by devious politicians and control freaks!
My vote goes to any Party that promises an overall reduction in surveillance coupled with an intelligent evidence based legal system that puts the individual first
.

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Jules, York says...
6:49pm Sun 17 Feb 08

This is ridiculous! They wouldn't let me buy wine this afternoon, I am 37 years old for goodness sake!! Shall be shopping elsewhere in future.

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On the run, around town says...
7:02pm Sun 17 Feb 08

id have got the wine somehow...

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slittle, york says...
8:51pm Sun 17 Feb 08

i think this policy is great, and i hope that all you people who don't like are willing to pay our £5000 fine for doing our jobs i think you all just need to carry your id with you and produce it not kick up a fuss because you've being asked to prove your age.

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slittle, york says...
8:59pm Sun 17 Feb 08

jackie york,
i think the 'think 30' policy is agood idea, teenagers are so clever at making themselves look older than they actually are. maybe this is a thing of the future that all uk citizens should carry a compulsory i.d. whether they are 18 or 80! the government should introduce an appropriate i.d. for everyone. well done tesco!

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True grit, York says...
10:12pm Sun 17 Feb 08

Alcohol shouldn't be sold in supermarkets or ANY other shop - other than licenced premises, such as booze buster or such. This way, just like a DVD/video hire contract, the customer has a serial number and the shop holds details on Name, address etc. This would surely be less traumatic for us that are cursed with the fact that we look under 30 year old. Good for Tesco trying to take responsibility from the 'less fortunate' invincibles though.

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Franky, York says...
12:10am Mon 18 Feb 08

Insane, seems some people want to go back to the controlled way of living that we fought wars last century to prevent?

To quote the Housemartins, "If this is freedom, you must be joking..."

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Littlepoo, Washington, DC (ex pat) says...
12:42am Mon 18 Feb 08

Jules wrote:
This is ridiculous! They wouldn't let me buy wine this afternoon, I am 37 years old for goodness sake!! Shall be shopping elsewhere in future.
Take it as a compliment!

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Voice of reason, York says...
10:43am Mon 18 Feb 08

Tesco will soon change their minds when their ridiculously huge profit margin takes a battering!

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shadycat, York says...
8:48am Wed 27 Feb 08

Why not stick with the law, 30 is silly and smacks of a nanny state, i will be moving my custom to ASDA from now on, i have used Tesco's for the past 10 years but more fool them, i hope more customers do the same.

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