Tesco Refused me Alcohol Today and £70 fine!?

At a Tesco store I don't happen to normally visit,
I went in to purchase some alcohol and because my friend who was with me was under 18, I was refused the sale.

Okay so fair enough, this was understandable (though it was annoying as when parents go along with the kids to the store they don't ask to ID the kids like they did with my friend)

The checkout guy told me 'next time just come back by yourself'
So later in the day, I came back BY MYSELF and went to the checkout to purchase the alcohol.

So the next thing that happens is the guy asks for my ID, I give it to him and he says "you were in here earlier and you were refused the sale because you were with someone without ID so I'm going to have to check but I don't think I can sell it to you"

... I'm not a liar, so I said 'yes but I'm by myself now" and then I waited while he checked with another guy and they said "we can't sell it to you because it's the same thing and you're buying the same stuff as well"

So this is when I got a bit angry because I was by myself, my friend wasn't there, and they're saying its the same thing? and that its suspicious because I want to buy the same stuff? well of course I do, what else did I go in there for!
I just don't see how it's not a legal purchase when I have ID and I was by myself?

So what I then proceeded to say was "I'm by myself, my friends not even here, does this mean you're not gonna sell me alcohol anymore for example if I came back tomorrow just because I came in here one time to buy it with someone who's not 18... it's exactly the same thing as a parent going into a shop with their kids being refused alcohol and it's silly"

I also said "how is it going to make a difference because I'll just go round the corner to my local Tesco and they'll sell it to me sooo"

I just find it silly because if my mum has been with me when I was 16/17 and she was buying a bottle of wine, I was never ID because it's not my purchase.

I understand this is all based on the belief that I'm going to give the alcohol to younger people but I don't see how it stops anyone from drinking it anyway because like I said parents buy alcohol in front of their kids all the time.

The alcohol wasn't even for my friend!? she doesn't drink!


I just wanted to hear some opinions whether you think its fair not to sell it to me the second time!

I can kinda see where Tesco is coming from, however there reasoning is flawed. I would recommend making a complaint to HR or management and express your disdain in this matter, and then threaten to take your custom to Lidl.

Hahaha I might actually do that!
i get it the first time round it's just the second time seemed unfair to me!

At a Tesco store I don't happen to normally visit,
I went in to purchase some alcohol and because my friend who was with me was under 18, I was refused the sale.

Okay so fair enough, this was understandable (though it was annoying as when parents go along with the kids to the store they don't ask to ID the kids like they did with my friend)

The checkout guy told me 'next time just come back by yourself'
So later in the day, I came back BY MYSELF and went to the checkout to purchase the alcohol.

So the next thing that happens is the guy asks for my ID, I give it to him and he says "you were in here earlier and you were refused the sale because you were with someone without ID so I'm going to have to check but I don't think I can sell it to you"

... I'm not a liar, so I said 'yes but I'm by myself now" and then I waited while he checked with another guy and they said "we can't sell it to you because it's the same thing and you're buying the same stuff as well"

So this is when I got a bit angry because I was by myself, my friend wasn't there, and they're saying its the same thing? and that its suspicious because I want to buy the same stuff? well of course I do, what else did I go in there for!
I just don't see how it's not a legal purchase when I have ID and I was by myself?

So what I then proceeded to say was "I'm by myself, my friends not even here, does this mean you're not gonna sell me alcohol anymore for example if I came back tomorrow just because I came in here one time to buy it with someone who's not 18... it's exactly the same thing as a parent going into a shop with their kids being refused alcohol and it's silly"

I also said "how is it going to make a difference because I'll just go round the corner to my local Tesco and they'll sell it to me sooo"

I just find it silly because if my mum has been with me when I was 16/17 and she was buying a bottle of wine, I was never ID because it's not my purchase.

I understand this is all based on the belief that I'm going to give the alcohol to younger people but I don't see how it stops anyone from drinking it anyway because like I said parents buy alcohol in front of their kids all the time.

The alcohol wasn't even for my friend!? she doesn't drink!


I just wanted to hear some opinions whether you think its fair not to sell it to me the second time!

oh yes the £70 fine thing because I wasnt able to make a £5 purchase in order to receive parking at the carpark (otherwise they assume you're just parking there and fine you for it..... )

I can kinda see where Tesco is coming from, however there reasoning is flawed. I would recommend making a complaint to HR or management and express your disdain in this matter, and then threaten to take your custom to Lidl.

1. They have total discretion whether to sell to you or not. Just buy it from elsewhere. there licence is worth hundreds of thousands if not millions.

2. Were you fined or not?

Hahaha I might actually do that!
i get it the first time round it's just the second time seemed unfair to me!

They haven't actually done anything wrong, in fact Im pretty sure they have done exactly what the terms of an alcohol license require them to do.

why did you go back to the same shop? Is it the only shop in town or are you just an idiot?

Yes but it's silly because they do it all the time they sell alcohol to people who are with people who are younger! that is my point,

and currently waiting to see if a letter is received throught the post about the fine

OP was told to come back later by herself by the cashier that refused her service initially, she did this and was still denied service.

I agree however that it would've been easier for her just to go elsewhere.

OP was told to come back later by herself by the cashier that refused her service initially, she did this and was still denied service.

I agree however that it would've been easier for her just to go elsewhere.

The OP asn't told to come back later, they were told 'next time, come alone'...

There is a pretty signifcant ifference there

At a Tesco store I don't happen to normally visit,
I went in to purchase some alcohol and because my friend who was with me was under 18, I was refused the sale.

Okay so fair enough, this was understandable (though it was annoying as when parents go along with the kids to the store they don't ask to ID the kids like they did with my friend)

The checkout guy told me 'next time just come back by yourself'
So later in the day, I came back BY MYSELF and went to the checkout to purchase the alcohol.

So the next thing that happens is the guy asks for my ID, I give it to him and he says "you were in here earlier and you were refused the sale because you were with someone without ID so I'm going to have to check but I don't think I can sell it to you"

... I'm not a liar, so I said 'yes but I'm by myself now" and then I waited while he checked with another guy and they said "we can't sell it to you because it's the same thing and you're buying the same stuff as well"

So this is when I got a bit angry because I was by myself, my friend wasn't there, and they're saying its the same thing? and that its suspicious because I want to buy the same stuff? well of course I do, what else did I go in there for!
I just don't see how it's not a legal purchase when I have ID and I was by myself?

So what I then proceeded to say was "I'm by myself, my friends not even here, does this mean you're not gonna sell me alcohol anymore for example if I came back tomorrow just because I came in here one time to buy it with someone who's not 18... it's exactly the same thing as a parent going into a shop with their kids being refused alcohol and it's silly"

I also said "how is it going to make a difference because I'll just go round the corner to my local Tesco and they'll sell it to me sooo"

I just find it silly because if my mum has been with me when I was 16/17 and she was buying a bottle of wine, I was never ID because it's not my purchase.

I understand this is all based on the belief that I'm going to give the alcohol to younger people but I don't see how it stops anyone from drinking it anyway because like I said parents buy alcohol in front of their kids all the time.

The alcohol wasn't even for my friend!? she doesn't drink!


I just wanted to hear some opinions whether you think its fair not to sell it to me the second time!

oh yes the £70 fine thing because I wasnt able to make a £5 purchase in order to receive parking at the carpark (otherwise they assume you're just parking there and fine you for it..... )