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An 87-year-old man was asked to prove he was over 21 when he tried to buy a bottle of sherry in a York supermarket.
The former Lord Mayor of York, Jack Archer, said he was shocked - but flattered - when asked the question by staff at Morrisons in Acomb.
He said: "I don't look my age but I certainly don't look young enough to be in trouble for underage drinking."
Morrisons said staff had to ask anyone buying alcohol to confirm they were over 21, or provide proof of age.
Mr Archer said he often had a small glass of sherry at bedtime to help him sleep.
He said: "I was taken aback really. Afterwards I thought I should have showed them my bus pass and that would have proved how old I was.
"I must admit the lady wasn't too persistent and I realised she was only doing what she's been told to do."
A Morrisons spokesman said: "This is done with the best of intentions and we would hope it is taken in good humour by those obviously over the age of 21, as we do not wish to cause offence and no disrespect is intended.
"We take our responsibility with regard to selling alcohol very seriously and all our stores operate the Task 21 scheme, which addresses the difficulties staff face in being able to determine if a customer is legally old enough to buy alcohol.
"To further limit any element of doubt, staff at the Acomb store are required to ask anyone buying alcohol to confirm that they are over 21."
Anyone who appears to be under 21 has to provide proof they are old enough to buy alcohol.

Shame that it is not a requirement to be 21 with the mental age of someone of 87  ::)

Matt

Crap, that never happens to me....

I think it may be the gray hair and cane that makes them pretty sure I'm a wee bit over 21....

I remember standing in a checkout line chatting with a girl I knew for a fact was 36. She was so tiny that she looked about 16 at best and had her drivers license at the ready to buy cigarettes. I cashier almost thought it was a fake ID. But I assured her that I knew the woman and could verify her age because she worked with me for many years.

Afterwords, I stepped up to get my cigarettes and said, "Well, are you gonna check my ID"? The clerk said "No, you are obviously of age". I said "Aw, come on, check it". She did so grinning from ear to ear. All of a sudden her eyes got big as saucers as she said, "WOW! Are you really THAT OLD"! I started laughing and said "Give me back my darn drivers license and hush"! Never tried that again....

I understand that it's important to ensure you're not selling alchohol to minors, but that's a little rediculous...

If you read the article it says that it's company policy to ask everyone buying alcohol, those over just need to say "yes I am" those who are not need to show proof of age. I think it's more stupid that someone thought that it was worth telling the press.

If you read the article it says that it's company policy to ask everyone buying alcohol, those over just need to say "yes I am" those who are not need to show proof of age. I think it's more stupid that someone thought that it was worth telling the press.

Like so many other things these days this policy seems completely ridiculous to me. What happened to common sense? If you think about it the question is pointless. I'm in my 60s which should be perfectly obvious to anyone with half a brain cell. If you asked me if I was over 21 I would obviously reply Yes.* If you asked a teenager buying alcohol the same question he would most likely say Yes too.

Unless the law is different in York from the rest of the country the legal age for buying alcohol in the UK is 18. http://www.bbc.co.uk/crime/drugs/alcohol.shtml

What does the law say?

Under current UK law, it is illegal for anyone under the age of 18 to buy alcohol, whether in a supermarket, a pub or an off-licence. It is also illegal to supply someone under the age of 18 with alcohol.

*PS. I would just as likely say; "No, I'm 16 but I've led a very interesting life".

I hate this whole 21 thing, I get ID'd all the time

The whole "alc with 21" is a product of an idiot.
You can drive with 18, you can join the military with 17, you can marry with 18, you can smoke with 16.
All those things involve (more or less) resposibility for anything/-one, but not allowing you to be responsible for yourself when it comes to alcohol is just weak.

The drinking age in the UK is actually 18...they have this dumb new policy in shops though where if you don't look like you are 21 they have to ask you for ID. Kinda annoying, especially when you are 17

It isn't dumb as underage drinking is dangerous and does cause a lot of unnecessary deaths.
I worked in a pub (heck who hasn't?) and had to ID a girl I thought was about 15, she was 26 and recently married and said I was sweet to make out she was younger than she was...

It isn't dumb as underage drinking is dangerous and does cause a lot of unnecessary deaths.

Well deserved deaths if they can't consume alcohol responsibly.

I worked in a pub (heck who hasn't?)

Me.

Wanted to, 'though. :|

Since when do underage and responsible go together?

Since when do underage and responsible go together?

Not really.

But a monster hangover might get them on the path to responsibility.  ;D

Hasn't worked with my 8th graders yet

If you read the article it says that it's company policy to ask everyone buying alcohol, those over just need to say "yes I am" those who are not need to show proof of age. I think it's more stupid that someone thought that it was worth telling the press.

Like so many other things these days this policy seems completely ridiculous to me. What happened to common sense? If you think about it the question is pointless. I'm in my 60s which should be perfectly obvious to anyone with half a brain cell. If you asked me if I was over 21 I would obviously reply Yes.* If you asked a teenager buying alcohol the same question he would most likely say Yes too.

Unless the law is different in York from the rest of the country the legal age for buying alcohol in the UK is 18. http://www.bbc.co.uk/crime/drugs/alcohol.shtml

What does the law say?

Under current UK law, it is illegal for anyone under the age of 18 to buy alcohol, whether in a supermarket, a pub or an off-licence. It is also illegal to supply someone under the age of 18 with alcohol.

*PS. I would just as likely say; "No, I'm 16 but I've led a very interesting life".

The legal age to buy alcohol still is 18. But most places now have a policy if ID'ing you if you look under 21 because it's not easy telling a 17 and 18 year old apart. Morrisons it seems, no doubt in an attempt to cover themselves from any eventuality have a policy of asking anyone buying alcohol if they're over 21, and if the person on the checkout doesn't believe them then they ask for proof of age.

This means that everyone in that Morrisons, regardless of age gets asked if they're over 21 when buying alcohol. Which is why I think it's stupid that someone thought this case worthy of the news.