Nose cut off, face spited

[andrewducker]

73 year old man refuses to say "I am over 21." Supermarket refuses to serve him alcohol. Both end up looking pretty fucking stupid.

Comments

[pigeonhed.livejournal.com]

I would have reacted the same way as the 73 year old gentleman. (I am 42) The law expects the server of alcohol to refuse service if they have reason to suspect that the purchaser is under 18, but if they could reasonably assume the purchaser is over 18 then even if they are actually under-age no offence has been committed by the seller, only by the purchaser. The 'Over 21' approach used by many stores is a way of covering the grey area where somebody of 17 can reasonably look 18 or 19 and vice versa.

[a-pawson.livejournal.com]

On the other hand, the easiest way to remove any doubt is to ask everyone to verify they are over that age. This seems to be the norm in some shops. I have noticed I have recently been asked if I am over 18 when making purchases (I'm 32 and hardly likely to be mistaken for a 17 year old). Given that the person on the till can personally be prosecuted if they serve someone underage, it is hardly surprising that some retailers are instructing staff to do this.

I have been in bars in the USA where everyone had to show ID to get served, were they 21 or 81. No exceptions. In this case, no ID was required, the man simply had to confirm verbally that he was over 21.

[andrewducker]

Permission to steal that icon?

[a-pawson.livejournal.com]

Help thyself.

[pickwick.livejournal.com]

I've stolen it too, hope that's OK - shout if it's not. It's very pretty :)

[marrog.livejournal.com]

if they could reasonably assume the purchaser is over 18 then even if they are actually under-age no offence has been committed by the seller

Proof please - this is contrary to everything I've heard.

[pigeonhed.livejournal.com]

15 years working behind a bar in a pub just a few hundred yards from a sixthform school. We had regular visits from the police reminding us of the law and penalties, letters from our Head Office, etc.

The emphasis in application of the law changed a few years ago in England, so that if you look over 18 and I have no reason to suspect otherwise then I may serve you even though you may be under-age. It is very difficult to judge however, particulalrly with teenage girls, hence places opting for 21 as a safety net.

[marrog.livejournal.com]

With all due respect, that's not proof; it's you restating your opinion.

I have another long-standing barmaid here who says quite definitively that regardless of how old they look, if you serve an underager, you are liable, and your employer, not the purchaser.