Tesco’s Crazy Alcohol Policy
August 12th, 2008 by Frank
The other day in Tesco several Spanish people were buying some groceries, including a can of Pear Cider. When asked for ID the girl to the fore of the group produced her Spanish national ID card, which was refused as valid ID. In order to purchase alcohol at Tesco one must have a Garda National Age Card or a passport.
Seeing as how one doesn’t need a passport to travel within the EU, many French, Spanish, Polish and other European folk living or visiting here don’t have one, they have their national ID cards, and they don’t have a Garda National Age card.
In fact, a member of staff in tesco told me that they had heard of the Gardai telling people they were too old to get the Age Card.
So anyway, the Spanish ID card not being the right kind of ID, two other members of the group produced Passports, however the group were still denied their one can of Pear Cider because apparently it is the law that if someone tries to purchase alcohol with the wrong kind of ID, another person cannot then purchase that alcohol.
A member of tesco’s staff further explained that the individuals with passports would not be served alcohol if they came back to the store on their own. When asked within what timeframe, they replied ‘probably the rest of the day’.
Now, I understand where these well intentioned rules are coming from, but when put into practise it’s completely crazy.
It seems that the Tesco store policy is as a result of a deal they struck with the Gardai in order to be allowed to sell alcohol.
I don’t know much about alcohol laws, but it seems insane to me that this was a deal that was haggled out with the Gardai. Surely there must be some standard laws in place which would cover supermarket licences?
A member of Tesco staff admitted that this policy is a pain in the ass for Tesco as they constantly have to deal with both foreign nationals and students who are old enough to buy alcohol but don’t have the correct id with them.
It results in a certain amount of loss of sales as people who are refused alcohol often abandon the rest of their groceries too and leave to purchase elswhere.
I couldn’t find much information about store policies online, so I sent an email to customer.services@tesco.ie on the 04/08/08. No answer yet.
I summed up my email by saying:
- I would like to confirm that EU Country’s National ID Cards are
not valid ID’s for purchase of Alcohol at Tesco. - If this is true, I would like to lodge an official complaint that
EU Country’s National ID Cards are not valid ID’s for purchase of
Alcohol at Tesco. - I would like to enquire as to how this policy might be changed -
ie what can the consumer do to push for it to be ammended. -
I would like to understand more about why Tesco has a different
policy to other Off Licences.
Feel free to copy and paste 
UPDATE Apologies for not updating this post sooner, Tesco did get back to me in January and it totally slipped my mind to update this post.
Essentially the reply outlined that Tesco take their obligations around the sale of alcohol very seriously, and that the current legislation requires them to be extra vigilant.
The sale of alcohol to someone under 18 could result in a fine of €3,000 to the person who supplied the alcohol and the closure of the premises for a minimum of two days and a maximum of seven days. Tesco’s policy is to only accept the National Age card or a valid/current Passport as proof of age when purchasing alcohol to ensure they don’t sell alcohol to anyone under 18.
That was all the information contained in the email, the sender said my email had been forwarded to the relevant department for more information, but I have heard nothing since.
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August 12th, 2008 at 9:27 am
I’ve seen the same thing happen at Tesco Frank, a bit embarassing really and another example of nanny-statism and staff stupidity that they can’t or won’t recognise EU identity cards. I’ve given up going to Tesco-it’s an awful place. Quinnsworth should never have sold out, anyone over 5 could buy Yellow Pack booze there back in the good old days. Looking forward to Dunnes opening again in Patrick’s Street, they’re Irish and the quality is definitely better. Fair play with the email, tell us how you get on.
August 12th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
I like Tescos I must say!
This sounds like a case of the letter of the law, rather than the spirit, being enforced.
One point though, while people don’t need passports to travel within the EU, you do need your passport as valid ID for your airline now so most people would have theirs.
August 12th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
are you sure about that Eoin? I didn’t think that was a general airline policy, I know some airlines now stipulate it for security, at this end, but do they require countries who have national ID cards to carry passports? I’m not certain…
August 12th, 2008 at 2:12 pm
For Ryanair an EU identity card is sufficient only we don’t have them so we need our passports except for trips to UK where a driving licence is enough.
August 12th, 2008 at 2:28 pm
No I’m not sure. I know it’s Passports and Driving Licenses here so maybe it is National ID cards in other countries.
August 12th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
Jose, the Spanish lad living with me, flies with Ryanair Shannon to Alicante and he uses his Spanish ID card. You can check it yourself here Eoin, scroll down a bit first:http://www.ryanair.com/site/EN/conditions.php?pos=MYFLIGHT
Any German or French friends coming to Ireland with Ryanair also use their ID cards; a passport costs more money and is only needed for going outside Europe.
August 12th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
Pesky ID cards, who’d want those things anyway
August 13th, 2008 at 10:03 pm
Was she hot?
August 13th, 2008 at 10:18 pm
Did you clarify if she was legal?
August 14th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
Brian, I think you got your websites mixed up again – check to see on the other site if they’re wondering why you posted “Tesco’s on Paul St?” under BigBoy86654’s torrid little posting…
November 1st, 2008 at 10:34 pm
Hello!
The same happened to me and im completely fed up! Im a 26 yrs old
poor Hungarian foreigner from Cork. I tried to purchase 2 cans of
cider in the city centre in a Saturday afternoon with my Hungarian
National ID and the lady at the counter asked for my ID. I showed it
to her, and told her that i was 26 and there will be no problem. She
recognised from my accent that i was a foreigner and without even
looking at the ID and searching for my age she said, that she
cant accept my ID. I asked why, and she just said, she cant accept it. I
was immediately asking for the manager and she just said the same,
and that i would need a Garda ID and i can buy it for 10 euros. I said,
that i dont understand why i need it, as Hungary is a part of the EU,
since 2004 im free to travel, work and live here with a normal ID. I
dont want to go to the policy to be registered for buying cider and i dont
want to pay a single cent if i have the right to purchase alcohol as im
8 yrs older than 18. Thus, i dont understand, if it is the Tesco policy,
why they dont ask for every single person for ID, why they just
pick up people they dont like. I regard this as discrimination and i
have already contacted the Hungarian embassy and Tesco customer
services. I was arguing with the manager and said, that i can accept
their rules, their policy but i just want to see it. Of course they didnt have any policy (Cork is the second biggest city in Ireland and they dont have any copies of policies there i cant imagine…)
I am completely fed up and im ready for fight my rights. I dont think that
it is right to give someone (an 18 yrs old stupid irish at the counter) the right and power to discriminize me and spoil all my evening and refuse
selling 2 cans of cider. My experiences were sent to several Hungarian
and Irish media, newspapers, magazines…
Still waiting for response from Tesco customer services…
November 14th, 2008 at 4:52 pm
I write to you tell my experience in Tesco.
In fact on the 7 nov 2008 i decided with my friends to do the shopping in Tesco branch Paul ST Cork and when i went to the checkout the cashier asked me for my ID. I showed my French ID.
But to my surprise the cashier explained that it s not recognised in Tesco.
I asked to talk with the manager and he explained to me the same things.
In fact in Tesco it s impossible to buy alcoohol without your passeport.
Yet with my French ID it s possible to travel through Europe.
3 hours later i decided to return in Tesco with my passeport and when i went to the checkout, nobody asked me for my passeport.
I asked to talk with the manager a second time.
Of course i wanted to know why the first time the policy of Tesco is :
Not to sell alcoohol without requesting a passeport and the second time it s possible .
The second manager explained to me that the first time maybe i was wearing jeans and now i was wearing a dress , so perhaps i looked older.
I m very shocked by the policy of Tesco and by the attitude of the two managers.
I felt dismissed because of my less than perfect commond of the English language and also judged an account of the particular clothes i chose to wear.
Djamila 32 years
November 19th, 2008 at 9:37 pm
Thanks for your comments Tschabee and Djamila… the policy seems more than a little dubious. And of course I still have not received any answer to my email.
November 20th, 2008 at 8:50 pm
I already talked to many Tesco “managers” in Cork in two different Tesco’s (Paul Str and Mahon) and they were telling me different
stories. I only asked them to show me the Tesco policy, where it
is written that EU national ID cards as age prove are not accepted for purchasing
alcohol in Tesco stores. They told me, that they don’t have
the policy in the store (how strange) and i should call Tesco customer
care line. I did it. The first time the lady on the phone told me that
she has to check this out and will give me a ring back. Of course she didnt do it. When i called the second time she told me, that she can’t
help me further. I should go to the store, the policy should be available for everyone. I went back to the store, they told me that i should call
Tesco customer services…
An employee in Tesco told me, that it is the Tesco policy an other manager told me, that it is the Irish law, not Tesco’s policy.
Now i got an other number: Tesco main office Dublin. I’m curios but
im afraid, i know what the result will be…
I don’t give up. I really want to know why Tesco discriminate foreigners
living and working in Ireland, why my own national ID is less then
an Irish one. My driving licence and national ID is my official prove of
age (photo, date of birth written in clear English) accepted by all
authorities, we are able to travel and settle down in European countries
with it but we can’t buy a can of beer or cider. Thus i can’t accept the power of the cashier over us, who can decide whether to check my ID or not whether to serve me or not. There are lot of young foreigners in Ireland who dont want to carry a passport all the time or they dont even have one. In this cases it is not about not being able to show an ID,but
showing an ID and proving the age and then getting refused. The person at the counter should recognise that we are not under 18 any more and our ID cards also prove it, so he/she doesnt have any fear getting a fine ( i know that they get a fine if they serve a person under 18)but
he/still possess the power to refuse the purchase regarding a policy which is not available, which no one could show me…
We live in this country, paying the taxes and as European citizens should have the same rights as any other Irish person and shouldnt be discriminized. To be continued…
December 6th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
Again same story in dublin (tesco express of talbot street) !!! I am french without a passport but a valid ID.
The cashier told me “it’s the law” but it’s only the “tesco law”.
I felt really humiliated!
I sent an email to their cust service but did not get any answer yet.
No way to do that!
December 31st, 2008 at 7:26 pm
I just went to tesco in Mllow, Co.Cork and got refused alcohol as I didn’t have my passport with me. Although I did show them my IRISH DRIVING LICENSE!! They still wouldn’t serve me. Who would carry their passport around with them anyway??!! The female manager was extremely rude and I left my big trolley of food in the middle of tesco and demanded all my money back and walked out. It was so embarrasing, I’m fuming mad here!!!
December 31st, 2008 at 7:27 pm
I just went to tesco in Mallow, Co.Cork and got refused alcohol as I didn’t have my passport with me. Although I did show them my IRISH DRIVING LICENSE!! They still wouldn’t serve me. Who would carry their passport around with them anyway??!! The female manager was extremely rude and I left my big trolley of food in the middle of tesco and demanded all my money back and walked out. It was so embarrasing, I’m fuming mad here!!!
January 3rd, 2009 at 1:43 pm
Ireland is perfectly within its rights to insist that people who wish to buy alcohol have a national card from Ireland. It would only be illegal under eu law if a national from another country was charged more the card than an irish person. EU rules state that countries can impose what ever administrative requirements they like, so long its not discriminatory to foreign people. Each country has its rules, regulations and customs and this is respected by the EU. A valid EU ID card has legal weight in Ireland at one time only – entering the country. By the way no airline in Europe asks for a passprt if the country has a national ID card. Please check facts before posting.
Also, Irish people must have the Age Card, so why not foreign people. Yes it causes problems for visitors, and this should be overcome perhaps by a passport requirement. Passports across the EU look similar, where ID cards don’t. Passports are hard to forge – an ID card isn’t, because you dont know what the Lithuanian card is supposed to look like in the first place.
ID cards are of different sizes and shapes depending on the country in the EU. French ones are laminated paper, the size of two credit cards, Belgain ones are the size of credit card and made from plastic. The situation would become crazy where the cashiers at Tesco would have to accept over 30 different types of ID, not to talk about drivers licences, passports etc.
Those people living in Ireland are entitled to apply for an age card and would be wise to adapt to Irish rules instead of expecting a more liberal approach. Liberal sale of alcohol was never the way in Ireland – Whether this is right or wrong is a question for another day.
January 8th, 2009 at 3:38 pm
Let’s talk about the rules then…if its a policy, or a rule, Tesco employees
should ask every single person to show an ID. How can you describe a
policy “if you look under 21″….How do I know if someone “looks” under
21? For one person I look 25, for an other one 27 and for an other one 22.
Actually I asked about this Irish Age Card and it is mainly for people under 25. Moreover I need to attach my birth certificate (of course I took it
to Ireland with me for stupid Tesco rules). I’m 27 years old, I don’t look
under 21 and it is impossible that I look under 18. Of course, who knows…for that reason there are the rules…but then as mentioned,
if it is such a big issue in Ireland – they should ask every time and every
customer for passport and/or Irish Age Card.
An other thing is, if it is like that, why Tesco doesn’t place this rule over
the alcohol shelves or at the counter? No single sign is about the
requirement of a valid passport instead of national age card. I already asked many different Tesco managers and employees, called 3 different Tesco customer service
lines – but no one could show me, send me this rule, or policy.
If it is so easy, as you write David, why they don’t show me this rule???
If you have it or you know, where I can have a look at this rule,
please post it or give me the link.
For some very strange reason I only look under 18 in Tesco stores. I have been living here for 16 months by now and no one ever asked
my ID in Off-licenses or other stores where I purchased alcohol. Why?
I will carry my passport to Tesco every time, as soon as they show me
their policy. And the problem is not only the rules and ID cards. Of course I can understand the poor employees at the counter being confused with so many different ID-cards…the problem is not only that…the problem is the way they were talking to me (and from the comments I see not only to me), that rudeness as I were stealing or
doing something illegal.
Entering different pubs across Ireland i will start understanding this
approach of alcohol sales…so many totally drunk people and such
a deviant behaviour I haven’t seen anywhere else in Europe…
January 19th, 2009 at 5:44 pm
I have come back from Aldi about 2 hours ago and guess what happened to me there?! I was buying a half bottle of wine (what is funny about it- I only wanted to buy it to add it to sauce I was cooking) and I got asked for an ID. I took out my Polish ID and gave it to the cashier, who looked at it and said that it needs to be in English. As I pointed her that every single word on the card had it`s equivalent in English, she said it needs to be a passport or a British ID. I said that as I am not a British citizen, this is impossible for me to have such a document and that this is a national ID in my country and a travelling document within the EU. She said that she cannot accept it but she will ask the manager to make sure. The manager looked at it and said, that “this is just a Polish ID” and that they cannot accept it. I only went to the store because it is the nearest shop to where I live and I was in rush to cook the food. This bloody cashier ruined my day and meal. I only said to her that this is ridiculous and I am not ever coming back again. I went online to check if there are any policies that state what kinds of documents are accepted if you want to buy alcohol and if any of them say that I have to carry my passport around, but I don`t seem to find any. As I am almost 24 I don`t think that I should be worried about taking the passport with me everywhere (not even any other ID which I do). I definitely ‘look’ over 18- if you can set rules on people looking or not looking a certain age. I am so annoyed… Has annyone come across a website with list of accepted documents? I believe that such list does not exist…
January 19th, 2009 at 11:11 pm
Yeah, it’s crazy… not sure what the actual legal situation is specifically I’m afraid…
January 21st, 2009 at 3:40 pm
More Tesco shenanigans. Balding, 49 year old man, asked for ID when buying a bag of party poppers, in Britain.
http://arbroath.blogspot.com/2009/01/balding-man-49-asked-for-id.html
January 22nd, 2009 at 2:47 am
That’s just weird…
January 29th, 2009 at 4:50 pm
As a 26yr old Irish national who has been buying alcohol in my local Tesco in Longford since I was 17 (have never before been asked for any form of ID in this store) I was shocked and a little annoyed when I discovered last night Tesco’s rather peculiar pick-and-choose method towards regulating the purchase of alcohol in their stores. I went in last night at 9pm to get a basket of groceries and a bottle of champagne to celebrate myself and my fiance’s mortgage application being accepted. The shop was almost empty thankfully but I was asked for ID. I giggled and said sure and produced my full driving licence (the lady before me laughed and jokingly said to the cashier “I feel insulted now that I wasnt asked!”- cashier didnt as much as crack a smile. Cashier wouldnt even look at the driving licence and told me in no uncertain terms that they can only accept passports, to which I replied, “is this a new policy, because Im coming in here nearly 10 yrs buying alcohol and have never been asked and have never seen so much as one notice informing the customer of this policy” – to which I got a shrug………that maddened me…..greatly. The lady in front of me packing her bags chipped in with “for heavens sake, she has a full licence with date of birth on it and a flipping engagement ring on- and you think shes 17, u didnt ask me for mine”. She also suggested that she buy it for me and to hell with their policy, but I thanked her and refused. I walked over to the manager on duty at the customer service desk and told her that their policy was an ridiculous and highly discriminatory. Its fine to have a policy that is out of the ordinary if it is applied accross the board but to behave in the manner they are with long-standing loyal customers is disgraceful. I also informed the manager that neither myself or my family would darken their doors again……….Dunnes is cheaper, better staffed, better quality of own brand and closer to home.
January 30th, 2009 at 12:10 am
Thanks to everyone for leaving their stories, keep em coming!
I never did get a response to the email I sent, I have just resent it, so let’s see if it gets a response this time!
January 31st, 2009 at 5:40 pm
i have had a run in at tesco too!! im 26 and was asked for id to buy two alcohol mixed cans. ive shopped there fors ages and at xmas i bought a trolley full of alcohol which was not a problem. there excuse was because i had my hair tied up!! but if a school child goes in with full make up on and their hair done they can buy anything!! i think its absolutly disgusting!! 26 years of age and asked for id i certainly wont be shopping for my booze their again!!
February 3rd, 2009 at 7:39 pm
two days ago i entered my local dunnes stores. i have been a regular customer there for the last five years. this particular day it was my aunts birthday. my younger sister was with me ( she is 17 years old). i was in a rush to pick up my aunts present so picked up a bottle of wine and 2 bunches of flowers, i also had soup,bread etc in my basket. my younger sister disappeared to read some magazines while i was in the queue. at the counter the shop assistant (who was quite obviously at least 4 years younger than me-i am 24.) asked me for id. i just happened to have my drivers license in my purse which i handed to her. after checking it she was just about to scan my wine but stopped. she said “does she have id” and pointed to my sister by now at the far side of the shop. i asked why on earth would she need id?! she stated that she could not serve me unless she had id because for all she knew i was buying the alcohol for her. she blatantly accused me of supllying underage with alcohol. i naturely got angry, told her i wanted to see her manager pronto. manager came out and backed her up!! would not serve me. my sister was not even beside me but because i entered the store with her she must have id!! i told them how ridiculous this was, told them how i could see where they were comin from if i were barely 18 with a bunch of college students but how this was my sister and i was in fact her giving her a lift to my aunts with her presents!!! not of this made any difference. i was so angry i ended up telling the assistants to shove the soup up her ****!!!
February 3rd, 2009 at 7:43 pm
by the way i heard that by law someone over the age of 24 does not have to show id. is this true??
February 3rd, 2009 at 8:59 pm
So it’s not just Tesco who are driving people crazy with bizarre alcohol policies then!
Thanks for your story!
Not sure how that 24 thing could be true – how could you prove you didn’t have to show ID without showing it?
February 19th, 2009 at 12:01 am
Just left behind a bottle of wine in Aldi after hearing that my Finnish PASSPORT won’t do for an age verification. Now, how brilliant is that? I’m 27 and I definitely do not look like 17.
May 7th, 2009 at 4:54 pm
Yeah. 26 here. Girl wouldn’t even look at my Full Irish Driving License. It is so fucking humiliating. No way I look 17.
May 12th, 2009 at 5:35 pm
i’m so glad i found this! i was so mad yesterday after buying a bottle of wine in my local aldi store. I am 24 years old, i do admit i do look younger but i really dont think i could pass for a 17 year old!
I am fed up with them changing their “policy”. They usually ask me for ID, but i have learned to take my passport with me to avoid the embarrassment. Yesterday was the final straw – after looking at my passport, she barely looks at me and says- “I will not accept a passport anymore, garda age card or drivers licence only”… I felt like asking her if she could understand english or calculate the math that i was 24. I just dont understand it, i mean surely everywhere must accept a passport. I told her that i dont have any of the other two and she didnt even reply. I am disgusted. We need to sort out this policy. the age card is a joke, why should i have to pay for it when a passport is exectly the same thing? ill bring in my really old, falling apart, provisional driving licence the next day to see what she has to say.
phew, thaks for that i really needed to rant!
May 12th, 2009 at 5:51 pm
Thanks for commenting! I saw some more people giving out on FaceBook recently. It really is ridiculous.
May 12th, 2009 at 5:56 pm
I did receive a reply to the second email i sent and forgot to update the post. I thought that they were to come back to me with more information, but they didn’t. I might send a follow up email. I’ll update the post with the response details now.
May 25th, 2009 at 10:28 pm
Hi all,
I just wanted to clarify a few things in relation to legislation and “off sales” in this country. I don’t work for Tesco or never had, but I have being in retail management for several years and have done an RTC(Responsible Trading in the Community) course that helps people in the retail sector understand the law in relation to alcohol sales. Firstly as you all know you must be 18 or over to purchase alcohol. Secondly the legal forms of acceptable ID are the Garda Age Card, Passport or Drivers licence or International Student Identity Card in the case of foreign nationals.. Now here is the catch. The only form of ID accepted by the courts is the Garda age Card, this is despite the fact that their is 3 other forms of “legally acceptable ID”. This doesn’t make sense at all. According to the courts the other forms of ID are “too easy to forge”???. The problem for retailers is that if they winde up in court over a breech of law and they accepted anything other than the age card, then they get hit with very hefty fines. No retailer wants to lose a licence especially considering how difficult they are to get along with their price(250,000euro..and higher). The reality is its a pain in the ass to get drink but its a bigger pain if you are on the wrong end of a mandatory 2 day closure order of your “ENTIRE” premises. The law should be changed but don’t lose sleep waiting for it. Hope this clears things up a little.
May 26th, 2009 at 2:37 pm
Thanks Anthony, that sheds some light on the situation alright!
June 13th, 2009 at 12:07 am
Hello there. I had a same problem today at tesco store in castlebar, they didnt t accept my polish id card. But i will make a war about that. This is not posiblle that in one EU country where is one law ,diffrent shops they have diffrent laws:) In Ireland’s National Alcohol Policy is that to buy an alcohol when u ask for ID u need to show :National Age Card, a passport, a driving licence, or a identitiy card issued by an EU member state. THATS A IRISH LOW….and I dont know yet why is that that they dont folow those rules…. I think all people that they have proplem with not accepting EU ID in some shops in Ireland should make a one statement and send it to the Irish Goverment so they make sure people from other EU cuntries they will start to be treated like the irish. I will make a internet page soon so anyone intrested to sign that kind of statement will be able to do it on that page. Lets Start WAR for our rights.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
June 18th, 2009 at 10:12 pm
What we need is to complain, not to the shop manager, but to tesco ireland and somewhere else (i dont know where) because this goes against the european union legislation. My spanish ID is good enough to enter the country, get a job, for the garda, ppsn, etc but not good enough to buy alcohol? Because of the only fact of being spanish I am banned from buying alcohol in a shop? That is racism. Wake up guys you belong to Europe now!!
Additionally, when I asked them for the complaints book they say they dont have any. is that legal? A publish establishment without complaints book?
if every one of us send a written complaint they would take the matter seriously. i am an adult, i showed legal and valid ID proof (including irish driving licence) and I behaved very calm and respectful I dont deserve the treatment they gave me.
WRITTEN COMPLAINS and PHONE CALLS TO TESCO AND DUNNES
June 18th, 2009 at 10:17 pm
another thing that help us to understand Ireland… there is no a national ID (which speeds up bureaucratic and administrative processes, not to tell that they enable the police to find criminals within minutes) BUT they have an ID exclusively for drinking!!!
That’s a bit crazy if you think about it
June 28th, 2009 at 8:13 pm
refused alcohol sale from Tesco because I had my 15 year old son with me. I’m over 18, I wasn’t drunk and I’m allowed to purchase alcohol legally – the child can even drink at home legally. When did Tesco invent their own Law? And further why do they not advertise their fantastic policy they refer to all the time. By the time I had finished ranting we had 5 managers, 2 security staff and 2 police. What a waste of time and yet still they couldn’t get to grips with the real Law and Tesco Law. Talk about discrimination and breach of Human Rights. Where would they like me to leave my children when I shop – on the street corner? Further, how can they deliver alcohol for home shopping when my children are at home????????????????? BONKERS
July 3rd, 2009 at 10:38 am
I’ve also become a victim of Tesco ID, the cashier had her eyes on me because I had 3 cases of Stella on my trolley, soon as I got near to the cashier, she turned around and said” do you have an ID? I was like? WTF I’m a 28 year old man, never been asked for ID, I thought she was having a joke! but no she was serious, as if it was personal, the long line of customers behind me were watching, so I said hold on il be back, I went to my car and got my driving licence” and then she wanted to see my age”
I REFUSED to show her my ID i demanded to see the manger of the store, but what dose she do? She runs to the security guard who was a nice guy and did not interfir at all, as I was in my rights to make a stand this bullyboy tac tic is wrong!
So this blond bimbo comes to another till and jumps straight into my argument that I am already having with the cashier, so I told her to shut it bemuse she dose not even know what’s happened so she should keep her gob shut, supervisor turned up and made apologise ect
The only reason I am p*ssed off is because I am 28 year old and I look 37 not 16 or 19.
So I think if Tesco staff dose not like your face, then ID would be required
This happened at Bradford Tesco foster square
July 22nd, 2009 at 1:58 am
I will take a similiar situation much more serious.
The same happened to me today, and is the reason why I’m here searching for information.
My wife went to the shop on the corner to buy some cigarrets but in less than 5 minutes she was back shotting fire everywhere, when I ask her what’s wrong she said that have to come back to pick up some indentification, she is 27.
She come back again and said that they don’t accept the Spanish ID card and that don’t even look at as soon my wife spoke with her spanish pronounce.
I do have a passport, a inglish drive license but this will not pass in clear, ok my english isn’t very good as you can notice but when I first came to UK my ID card was enought to travel, and to pay all my taxes and fees and I pay nearly 250 pounds tax per week!!!but then not to prove my wife age. I went to the shop and very educated ask to the laid to sell the cigarrets to my wife but she just said NO very rude! If this is not descrimination or even racism I don’t know what it is!
I said that I will phone the police and she just went to clean a few box without even to awnswer me.
I call the police and this guys were try to forget about by the phone, I insist and tell I will charge the police as well if they don’t come to sort it out. It tooks about 5 min to arrive a car and I still remember the stupid face the officer was making looking at the ID Card, it turn over the card maybe a 20 times to tell me that is not accepted, I insist and told that the card have inglish writed on it and shound be difficult to understand.
The manager arrive and have to show all documents to police but this was just a theater as I knowed nothing will happen.
The police look at me and told me that it’s the policy they have.
Anyway I asked all details to everyone, officers names and numbers, shop name adress , the case number will be given to me tomorrow as I have the right to present a claim because the process have to starts somewhere and it can then escalate.
Everything will be with a lawer tomorrow and I will do everything to fight this discrimination, the problem is that people here they just take what goverment says and no questions are made, like my neighbours say “Oh well…” “don’t be so upset!!” “it’s how things are!!!”".
But one thing is sure in future things will change in this country and if you look close you can notice allready, I pay 3/4 times more tax than most of people so I DO HAVE THE SAME RIGHTS.
If the law is wrong the law should change as law is built from common sense!…
Sorry for my Tarzan english
August 3rd, 2009 at 2:39 am
I work in Tesco in Castlebar and the level of abuse directed at staff because we follow policy is mad! I asked a lad for id yesterday and he called me an idiot and alot more because HE didnt have an id. I hate asking for id but if i get it wrong once I AM SACKED!I must be the exception because If I get refused alcohol due to policy, I dont feel the need to verbally abuse staff.For the record i got refused service in several filling station in Castlebar with my driver licence( I’m 24) and I just went elsewhere. Also I find the whole abusing staff thing I also work as a bouncer and if I ask for id on the door I rarely get abuse because alot of you know that, If you abuse me as a bouncer I wouldnt stand there and take it but in tesco i have to grin and bear it.I know these policies are frustrating as hell but I as the employee dont make the rules!
August 5th, 2009 at 1:45 pm
Hi,
I had the same problem yesterday. I’m English and was picking up some beers with my friend (who’s German) in a Sainsbury’s store in Brighton England. When we got to the till we were both asked for I.D. having used to work at the store a few years ago I completely understood. I handed over my english driving licence with no problem (I’m 25) my friend then handed over her German National I.D. card (she’s 21) and she was told it was not valid, we asked for a supervisor who said the same. My friend then also produced her German Driving licence but again was told it could not be accepted. We were told that the only I.D. they could accept was an english passport or an english driving licence. This is completely ridiculous, and in my view is completely discriminatory. I called customer services today and all the woman said was that they are following government rules.
I know why these rules are in place but I really don’t understand why businesses and staff don’t use their common sense in these matters.
August 8th, 2009 at 11:53 pm
But what is really puzzling me, is the fact that 16 year old scangers can STILL buy alcohol.
But ordinary people who do not under ANY circumstances look under 18 get harassed and treated like criminals because the usual no brainer behind the counter is having a tough day and enjoys pushing people around.
And THAT is the real problem here.
August 15th, 2009 at 7:47 pm
ok ppl, time for a law lesson… IT IS against the law to sell alcohol to someone that is under 18… ID MUST be shown if the operator believes the customer is under 25 (depending on store policy, (think 21 and think 25) If there is a group ALL must have ID by law because of supply, they cannot just leave the premises if they have already been seen with the group at ANY point whilst on the premises… right now for the part where ppl do not get, if your are a parent with your child the operator will make an assessment on age of child, and type of alcohol, such as if you have a 13-25 yr old with you, they then can be asked for ID!! even tho the law states you CAN buy alcohol for you child, the prob is you HAVE to prove this is your child, which is nearly impossible, the fine for the operator is up to £5000, loss of job and a criminal record for the rest of life if they sell alcohol illegally in ANY of the ways above … PLUS even if you are lets say 30 but LOOK under 25 you MUST have ID!!! and ANY shop can refuse to sell you anything at any time without reason!! its private property ppl!! They also do NOT have to have signs, AND only accept photo ID of a certain quality, if you do not look like the person then why would you get it??? most stores will only accept, a National ID card (UK ONLY) passport (any country, must be in date and good quality… AN ID with a PASS hologram, thats it…
August 17th, 2009 at 11:30 am
Hi all,
I was googling the law on carrying id, and found this. I think it’s really interesting.
I’ve been refused service twice because I didn’t have the appropiate ID with me, once in Tesco and the following week in Aldi, both in Carlow.
I’m 26 years of age, and was rarely asked for ID when I was 18/19.
In fact I was very tall for my age as a teenager and used to have to carry my birth cert around to prove that I was underage…find it ironic now that they think I look 17!
Both times, I was buying a bottle of wine as part of my weekly shop.
The first week in Tesco, I was joking to my friend over the phone about getting tipsy on the bottle of wine I was about to purchase, not sure if this drew their attention to me or not.
I find it incredible to be asked for ID, and I’m really offended by it too.
They say it’s store policy….store policy to prevent people well over the legal age from buying alcohol.
Someone told me that over 23’s are not obliged to carry ID, but I can’t find evidence to back this up.
I think once you can show photo ID to prove your over a certain age, that should be enough. I’m hardly going to get a fake id to say that I’m nine years older than I am.
September 9th, 2009 at 5:34 pm
I think for all the heated debate here, people are singing from different hymn sheets, so to speak.
Dan, on one of your points……the law regarding the sale of alcohol in an off licence and the requirment of ID. Absolutely. Sound law. Brought in by the Government. A passport and a drivers licence are also Goverment issued documents, however, Tescos policy (certainly in my local Tesco) is that they do not accept any form of ID other than a National Age Card in Ireland. Explain and carry on the law or common sense lesson, whichever suits.
At 27yrs old I was actually laughed at in my local Garda station when I asked for an application form for the Age Card having been refused in Tesco carrying both a valid Irish Passport and full drivers licence.
If it is the law to ask for ID if there is a child with a parent, why do the parents with the toddlers in tow not get asked for their age card too…….seeing as its the law like???? Seriously messed up system in operation in some stores in this country. Their really needs to be clarity and consistency in procedures regarding the sale of alcohol to ALL who wish to purchase because at the moment it does border discrimination if not operated accross the board. Nobody minds bringing their goverment issued documents ie drivers licence and passport if they know they will be asked for them and the documents accepted. There is a simple solution to most things when the powers that be add a little common sense to the mix.
September 9th, 2009 at 6:44 pm
Dan, I agree that shoopkeepers should ask for an ID if they have the most minimal doubt about the age of the consumer.
I dont mind at all if they ask me for ID, it’s the law!!
What piss me off is that they do not accept an irish driving licence, an European ID, etc. We are in Europe and if they are valid for the Garda and customs all over Europe fucking Tesco is not any better.
So please, i only got angry with the staff they told me that my spanish ID and irish driving licence were not valid. Are you calling my a criminal? you think I faked them? If the police accept them as real why you dont?
That’s the law. You can not stop a person from buying alcohol because she/he does not have an Irish ID
September 9th, 2009 at 7:14 pm
Thank God it hasn’t happened to me yet, but if it did I would be cross.
It is not MY fault I was born in a proper country and carry some of the hardest pieces of ID IN THE WORLD to forge and therefore do not have a piece of cardboard written in crayon issued by the Gards on behalf of the banana republic of Onga Bonga (Ireland).
If I have a valid driving license, laser card, credit card surely that would have to be enough.
This is nothing more than a law that allows you to push dirty, stupid foreigners around a bit for a laugh (Irish sense of humor), because the Geeeaaaards will only laugh at anyone, 30+ who walks in there asking for a national age card (piece of cardboard written in crayon issued by the Gards on behalf of the banana republic of Onga Bonga).
This to me is bogman mentality and hillbilly syndrome, meaning that paperwork takes 10 times longer than in a developed country, for fear that people will think you are backwards.
Ironically, exactly that kind of WAY exaggerated brouhaha when it comes to paperwork is what marks out banana countries.
September 9th, 2009 at 7:37 pm
Very simple. No need for cards or ID papers. Just bring with you some reusable bags, don’t wear a tracksuit, buy some spuds and milk and beans and shit along with your alcohols and you won’t be troubled. I was only troubled for ID once, when I was buying alcohol on its own. I looked at the woman and laughed in her face. She left me off. If you look like you’re doing your weekly household shopping, and trying to get on with your life, no-one will trouble you.
If you are refused though, never forget the “rockn’roll” approach to dealing with the situation. Be very polite and offer to return the bottle to the shelf… while remaining at the checkout. A flying Absolut bottle looks very pretty against the ceiling-hung TESCO signs.
September 9th, 2009 at 10:10 pm
Try “looking like trash”.
Wear your scuzziest tracksuit and baseball cap. Fill your trolley with tons and tons of booze.
Put one pack of nappies on top.
When you get to the checkout pretend you’re short on money.
Say you’ll leave the nappies behind.
They’ll be so mortified, they won’t even think of asking for ID.
Also, it’s one thing to ask a foreigner for ID, who’ll huff and puff for a bit and then back down.
It’s another thing to ask a scuzzball for ID who’ll be back with 35 friends and you’ll have to deal with them.
That’s why knackers don’t carry ID.
September 10th, 2009 at 9:28 am
John……….really, that sort of blatant bigotry has no place in any society. And you call Irish people “hillbillies”. Lest we forget the store mentioned at the start of the thread is Tesco (not an Irish store). I personally, have never had a problem of this type in an Irish run store. But I had the good grace not to start slagging off another persons nationality. That kind of behaviour only fuels more. Of course, if its that awful here, you always have a choice…..
Back on point. Gamma Goblin, I agree with what you’re saying to an extent. But this is not always the case, as on the occasion where it happened to me, I was in fact doing my weekly shop. I had the trolley load of shopping on the belt and the staff member had checked half of it through. I admit I did enjoy leaving all behind and telling the manager that I would not be darkening the door of their store again in favour of a decent, customer service driven supermarket, begins with “D” down the road.
September 10th, 2009 at 8:22 pm
My point is that European national ID cards are some of the hardest documents in the world to forge.
Driving licenses are a European model and accepted everywhere.
What bugs me is this roundabout discrimination of foreigners that’s always been going on in Ireland.
In the 90’s I was told by my bank manager “you can’t get a credit card because you’re not Irish”
Then I was told my car insurance would be loaded by 25% because I have a foreign license, DESPITE legislation existing outlawing this. I had to bring a written copy into the broker before he backed own, cause he didn’t fancy being hauled before the ombudsman.
My bank didn’t accept my European driving license (dumped them).
The Irish cannot directly discriminate against foreigners, so you simply discriminate against people with foreign, but valid and legal documentation.
Knowing that some of the Irish documentation required will be hard to obtain for foreigners.
I’ve seen this kind of thing before, in places like Bulgaria, Mexico and Morocco.
And Ireland of course.
September 11th, 2009 at 10:32 am
John, I see your point here completely as regard to the ID cards, but I don’t believe the problem here is discrimination against foreigners at all. Im a born and bred Irish person and I suffer the same as any foreign national in regard to the discussion on this thread. The point is Tescos policy on forms of ID accepted, of whom the ask for said ID and their downright lack of interest in the needs of their customers who keep their shops open.
“In the 90’s I was told by my bank manager “you can’t get a credit card because you’re not Irish”…..woah, thats an advert for not banking there. My brother in law (with his then girlfriend, my sister) came to live in Ireland circa late 1991 and had no problems at all setting up a bank account and credit facilites. Albeit, they were joint accounts with my sister but they went on his passport details and New Zealand ID as far as I know, as at the time he had nothing else. They did verify his identity with the New Zealand authorities, but that is to be expected in any country under those circumstances.
That was pretty bad treatment I agree John, but maybe that is more down to the individual banks policy rather than the banking sector as a whole.
Which brings me back to the Tesco policy……….it isn’t Irish law, it’s their interpretation of Irish law on the retail sector and covering themselves from prosecution. If a passport/driving licence/or EU ID (issued by a Government authority) is good enough in an off-licence or public house and is enough to cover those businesses from the long arm of the law in this country, why is it not good enough for Tesco? Tesco is the problem not the law of the land. If they followed the law of the land we wouldnt be having this discussion. It’s bad when the Government introduce nanny state policy, but a supermarket? Hence why I no longer shop there I suppose. If they wont listen to the individual, maybe individual en-masse might speak louder than the pointed fingers at the customer service desks.
Roughly 12 months ago I emailed the Dept. of Justice for some clarity on the above issue (as a citizen and taxpayer all my life, I thought I was entitled to this information). No reply. Not even an automated response. Nice.
September 11th, 2009 at 12:10 pm
I agree with Elaine, that while this crazy policy definitely affects foreigners more adversely I don’t think it is intended as racial discrimination. That doesn’t make it any less frustrating, but it seems as though this policy is negatively affecting Tesco staff and Tesco sales too, so why on earth they don’t revisit the issue with the authorities is a mystery.
Thanks for all the comments.
September 12th, 2009 at 4:13 pm
I was just refused 2 bottles of Wine from Tesco in Limerick, I am 29 years of age and had my full Driving Licence with me but didnt even get it out the wallet when I was quite bluntly told they only accept passports or driving licence. I told her I was 29 and she said she thought I looked young and she removed the wine an scanned thru the rest of my shopping. I was refused in Dunnes about 2 years ago and only had a provisional licence then and they do accept full licence but even then a manager was called and a second option taken. Not only am i disgusted by their innane policy but the attitude of the staff leaves a lot to be desired . I will be avoiding Tesco from now on and spend my hard earned cash somewhere else.
September 29th, 2009 at 12:04 am
Best thing to do:
At the till, first scan the alcohol, before the rest of your shopping, when they refuse, dump the lot. No need to be nice, just leave the entire shopping on the belt and walk off, not your problem.
If they have a separate off licence, go there first, when they refuse let them know you where going to do a full shop, but will now go elsewhere.
In all cases have manager called, waste as much of their time as possible, it’s their most valuable resource. Tie up as many people for as long as you anyhow can.
Maybe when this starts happening all the time, they might start thinking.
October 1st, 2009 at 2:11 pm
Hi there!
My name is Tamara and I am really glad I found this blog. I’m afraid to tell this hasn’t been only in Ireland but also in the rest of the UK. I’m a 25 year old Spanish girl living in Canterbury, Kent, for over 3 years, and last night me and my friends from work went out to celebrate one of them’s b’day. Well, surprisingly, at one of the pubs we all were ID, which I can understand as I never have any problem showing it (I find it even hilarious when they realize of my age). However, the girl yesterday night said it had to be a valid UK ID (excuse me, we are talking about UK where IDs aren’t compulsory and actually don’t even “exist” unless you want to have one), a driving license (my Spanish one, even tho it’s valid to drive all over the EU including here, wasn’t valid for this pub) or the passport (who leaves home with their passport risking loosing it????). I was really crossed as my ID has a chip that you can read in places with the stuff made on purpose for that, of course. But the worse was that now, while checking the documents valid as UK ID, I’ve found out that there was one that one of my friends had with her. She’s from Kenya, had her visa done a month ago, it estates it’s a valid form of UK ID and it’s actually the official one for all people outside of the EU!!!!!!!!! Why then the girl didn’t accept it?!?!?!?!?!?!!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!
What’s more, I actually found this article (http://www.yourcanterbury.co.uk/kent-news/Sainsbury_s-in-French-identity-card-row-newsinkent28276.aspx) that really leaves you thinking for a while what exactly is going on.
The problem is that to have a valid ID it must be issued at the UK, showing something from or about the UK and even being in English!!!!! I really love this country, the people and everything; but sometimes I feel like they’re a big sect trying to induce everyone into their cult, like they’re trying to have nothing to do at all with the EU or, even worse, making us all foreign thinking that if you don’t pertain to this country or “sign” with it, you’re not valid!!!!!
Am I being too unreasonable?????
October 14th, 2009 at 4:43 pm
I am a 20 year old Irish student and when i went to buy alcohal in tesco with my IRISH PASSPORT they told me they did not accept passports and only accepted irish age cards!
ridiculous
October 18th, 2009 at 10:01 am
reading through the postings it is clear that there a general misunderstanding of EU and Local Law.
EU Law very clearly states that a state issued document which clearly shows nationality SI required and may be demanded by government agencies in order to allow entry to a state. This can be either a Passport or an ID Card.
However EU law very clearly allows private companies (Tesco, Dunnes, ec) to themselves formulate policy on proof of age. Unlike government agencies they are not obliged to accept an ID card for any purpose. They can legally insist on a Passport.
The notice about appearing under 21 is meant as a help to the customer and its interpretation is left to the cashier. As these are private companies they can define such policy as long as it is not discriminatory.
I travel often to Austria and Germany and have seen stores there refuse to sell alcohol to Poles who produce ID Cards. For Example Karstadt (Am Zeil) in Frankfurt and Billa (Corso) in Vienna. The Poles who protesed were escorted out of the shops by security staff.
My advice on anyone who comes to Ireland is respect our laws and do not expect special treatment. If you are not prepared to do this then leave an go back to your own country.
Eireann go Bragh
October 21st, 2009 at 11:07 pm
Peter Pan I don’t think your anonymous view on this subject merits a genuine response.
October 22nd, 2009 at 5:35 pm
In response to Peter Pan and his last comment, not everyone who has an issue with Tesco’s odd policy is a non-national. If you had indeed read the comments here you would see that many Irish people have the same issues with them. And your final comment leaves a lot to be desired for someone, whom I am assuming, is a normal right-thinking person.
As you know so much regarding these laws can you speculate as to why a 26 yr old was refused when after handing over their valid Irish passport and told they would only accept a Garda National Age Card? I am not being defensive here, I would honestly like to know the legality of this.
October 22nd, 2009 at 8:29 pm
Mr. Eireann go Bragh [sic] defending a British multinational… ha ha fooking irony mate
October 22nd, 2009 at 8:46 pm
Oh how often have I heard the bloody “If you don’t like it, F*ck off!” record.
It really translates into “you are absolutely right, I have no comeback against what you said, how dare you point out the truth to me!”
Foreigners live here, work here, pay taxes, we can’t even vote on the shower of cnuts in what under the absence of something decent has to pass for a Government, so yes, once the market has recovered I’ll sell my house, take all the money with me and wiil indeed f*ck off to a decent country.
Etwas bloedes in einer toten Sprache.
November 4th, 2009 at 6:32 pm
Jochen, I am Irish and I agree with your anger in response to some of the ignorant and offensive comments left, but do not lower yourself to the same distasteful level as some posters. Not every Irish person, has the same views as some here. Maybe its down to lack of education, I dont know, but I do believe these people are in the minority.
I think this debate has wandered off topic and into the murky waters of discrimination enough.
To repeat a question….why is 26 yr old refused after handing over their valid Irish passport and told they would only accept a Garda National Age Card? Some people on here genuinely seem to know the laws regarding the sale of alcohol, Im interested in some educated answers and not some mindless discriminatory backlash nonsense…….
November 5th, 2009 at 7:36 pm
Hi Jochen,
What does this mean-Etwas bloedes in einer toten Sprache?
I know what it means literally, something stupid in a dead language, but how does it fit into the overall topic?
Thanks,
Martin.
November 6th, 2009 at 11:03 am
Well, I thought it fitted as well into the topic as “Eireann go Bragh”.
November 10th, 2009 at 2:46 am
This is blatant discrimination. There are some serious laws about this in Ireland and someone should launch some legal action. National ID’s a legitimate documents the world over and should be accepted as such.
If this happened to me as a foreign national I would launch an action against the police and tesco as they seem to have drawn up this agreement together.
November 12th, 2009 at 6:47 pm
I wouldn’t stop there Neil, I’d take it to the UN, the ECHR, the International Court of Human Rights in the Hague and for good measure I’d get someone to give the A-Team a call. ‘Blatant discrimination,’ lol!
November 12th, 2009 at 10:58 pm
The problem is obviously bullsh*t gone mad.
It used to be that people where allowed to use common sense.
Does that person look over 18, do they have an ID that would support that?
Good, sell them some booze.
But because of this “everybody is to blame but me culture” in this country you can go to an ice rink, fall, ding your head and get a small fortune.
You can get pi**ed, climb a high voltage line, get fried and everyone says “the ESB is at fault!”
One guy got drunk in a pub, crossed the dual carriageway, got knocked down. It’s everybody’s fault but his.
This now means that everyone has to hide behind such thick layers of bureaucracy that doing anything has become difficult.
An Post just scrapped a whole bunch of computers that where 2-3 years old.
Where they offered to schools or poorer nations?
No.
Their beancounters said “if someone sticks a fork in there and gets hurt we are liable”.
Therefore No Computers For You!
In a way we have done it to ourselves, by launching ever more ridiculous and frivolous lawsuits to cash in on our scraped knees and bumped shins.
And the courts handing out quite frankly stupid and inappropriate sums of money, not seen anywhere outside a US court. It’s like they’re all getting a percentage.
Result: Companies hiring the best legal brains to come up with ways for them to protect ourselves. Everything gets expensive, difficult and bogged down with red tape.
And since that is the procedure Tescos has come up with, the checkout girls have to adhere to it to the letter, even if it makes no sense. And there you have it.
It’s finally come to a point where it has become virtually impossible to buy alcohol as the average person.
But can someone tell my how 12-13 year old scumbags still manage to buy booze?
February 12th, 2010 at 12:11 am
Today i went in the Tesco store to buy some food for the dinner. eventually i met my bf there as well, and he had also picked up some beer. when we went to the till i was asked for my ID. We tried to explain that its not for me and i dont take my passport with me all the time i’m doing shopping but it didnt help. The casier said that it’s not a problem with my bf, but with me. I HAD TO show my ID for the thing a didnt buy at all!!!
It was the first problem. The second thing is a rudeness of the manager. He suggested us to do our purchasing in ANOTHER store, for example in Saintsbury’s. I was so surprised with his words. He said we took his time and he doesnt really care about anyone who fail to provide their ID and do not follow the Tesco’s policy. When we asked to show it to as, he said that for us it’s better to leave the store without making problems.
So i dont understand why I have to show my ID and they cant show me the policy? Is it not my right to ask them to provide it if i need to see it? If they dont believe that i’m 25 why should i believe them that they have this policy? And why they have a right to behave it so unrespectable way with people they might not like? i always thought that the customer is the main priority for the business (actually is what i’ve been tought in the uni)…
February 14th, 2010 at 9:18 pm
And there’s your problem.
The customer is king is certainly no longer the case.
It’s more like “we have 10000 people coming into this store, so we need you all to move along quickly, give us your money, not make a fuss and once your done kindly get the fcuk out of here as fast as possible so we can fleece more people”.
The game is how to extract as much money as possible as quickly as possible from as many people as possible.
The customer is therefore a necessary evil, something you put up with, like a shepherd tolerates sheep so he can shear and slaughter them.
The saddest thing is that the upper management doesn’t care beyond the bottom line and since you’re obviously a deranged troublemaker in their eyes, complaining will be less than useless.
The only thing they will react to is loss of revenue and interference with the smooth running of their operation.
Do a HUGE shop, then go to buy alcohol and if they’re making difficulties, get every manager in the store.
Draw this out for as long as possible, hold up as many people as possible and in the end abandon your shopping there at the counter and let them put it back.
Not your problem.
Then write letters of complaint and back it up to the media.
Tesco will not care about you as an individual, but if enough people do this to interfere with the efficient running of the store and profit plus loss of customers due to negative media exposure, maybe, just maybe they will rethink their alcohol policy.
Or I could just encourage everyone to follow the advise Tesco staff themselves are giving:
Don’t shop there.
February 26th, 2010 at 1:20 am
well, same problem just my age is 31…was shopping at killarney tesco ! customers were smiling and judging that i am about 30 years of age, when i asked to call me manager ! international ID card and EU drivers license weren’t acceptable ;-( did anyone find out exact link to any EU or citizens websites ? because i am realy angry at the moment ! tesco does everythink they want ? is that legal ?
ps. i am not goingt to give up ! will write wherever is possible !
March 3rd, 2010 at 9:42 pm
Actually, LIDL lists as acceptable forms of ID:
Passport
EU drivers licence
and:
EU ID card.
So, cheaper booze, less hassle and my German drivers licence not an issue.
In short:
DON’T buy your booze at Tesco, go to LIDL and save money and hassle.
Unless you like abuse and hassle. Then shop at Tesco.
March 4th, 2010 at 1:52 am
http://www.barkeeper.ie/page.asp?menu=0&page=274
Under the Intoxicating Liquor Act, 2003, it is an offence to sell alcohol to anyone under the age of 18 . (Appropriate identification includes a National Age Card, a passport, a driving licence, or a identitiy card issued by an EU member state).
March 14th, 2010 at 1:35 pm
I would like to complain about the services in the store in Cork (Paul Street).
Yesterday I went there to do my shopping and bought several items. Usually I never
check the receipt. This time I thought it was too much what
I paid so I had a look at the receipt straight away after I had left the till. I was overcharged
4 euros (the total sum was 20 euro) and went back to the employee to ask to get back
the money. He was expecting me and was very RUDE to me, that I should go to the Customer
Services desk and complain there! I was expecting apologies and a good manner, I felt
really bad in front of other customers why I was making trouble to him! I got my money back
finally, but I think this kind of behaviour is UNACCEPTABLE as he was making the mistake
not me! There are hundreds and thousands of people looking for a job and I don’t think I will
go back to Tesco to shop ever again! I will ask my friends to do the same. How many customers
he might have overcharged already? People who don’t look at their receipts? Especially if they
do a huge shopping?
My complaints to Tesco Stores is:
- employees at the till usually never say hello, no greetings or whatsoever
- some of them are even very rude (like the guy yesterday)
- compared to Lidl or Marc and Spencer they are extremely slow
- Tesco Alcohol Policy (although I’m 27 years old, I get asked for passport, like once out of 5 occassions and
they don’t accept European ID cards and European driving licence)
- I tried to find out the name of the person who overcharged me, but there is no single sign on the receipt
to give me a clue (only the date 13/03/2010 and time 14:49) and what 3505 004 1011 4509 means?
(at the bottom)
I’m really fed up with the services of Tesco and I will use every opportunity to complain! I never experienced this low service
level anywhere else…