A MUM says she was left ‘embarrassed’ after a supermarket cashier refused to sell her alcohol because her teenage daughter was with her.
Sue Manton was doing her weekly shop in Aldi when she claims a cashier refused to sell her gin ice pops and cocktail ingredients because her 15-year-old daughter was with her.
Ms Manton said: “They are basically saying that no parent with children can buy a drink. I can’t see how that can be possible.
“Surely this is not right. I feel very embarrassed, as does my poor daughter, that they are implying I would give my 15-year-old daughter alcohol.
“I just felt stupid and they were accusing me of being a bad parent.”
Ms Manton said she spent an hour in the St John’s store because staff refused to sell her the alcohol which she was buying for a party with her school mum friends.
Ms Manton, from St John’s in Worcester, claims the cashier told her the law allows them to refuse customers alcohol if they have a minor with them.
An Aldi spokesman said: “We operate a Challenge 25 policy at all of our stores and staff can apply this if they think alcohol may be passed to someone underage.
“We apologise to Ms Manton for any inconvenience caused.”
Ms Manton added: “Upon checking out, the cashier questioned my daughters age and asked for ID - she is 15. They then refused to sell me my alcohol. I explained that the alcohol was for me and that my daughter always comes with me as I don’t want to leave her home alone.
“They said that they thought I was buying the alcohol for her. They then said they would serve me if she was not with me. So she went to the car and I returned to the back of the queue, which was massive, only to be told half-an-hour later that I still couldn’t buy it as they had refused me previously.
“I was being argumentative which is unlike me. It was quite a long argument. Eventually they let me buy the alcohol.”
The 52-year-old says her daughter is very quiet and shy and says the argument has knocked her confidence.
Ms Manton says she shops frequently at Aldi but she no longer wants to shop there again.
She posted about her experience on Facebook, saying: “First time I have ever been refused purchasing alcohol and all because I had my 15-year-old daughter with me.
“I had two managers and the till girl arguing with me - they assume that because my daughter is with me the alcohol is for her.
“I have never heard anything so ridiculous. So, mums and dads, watch out - no adult is allowed to purchase alcohol if you have your children with you. It’s the law."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel