Does this Bristol woman look old enough to buy alcohol?
Tuesday, September 29, 2009, 07:00
A 23-year-old Bristol woman says she was humiliated when a member of staff at an off-licence asked other customers whether she looked old enough to buy alcohol.
Ellen Spenceley said she felt "angry" when she not only had her age and ID questioned by the assistant manager at Thresher at the top of Whiteladies Road, but was then scrutinised by other customers.
Miss Spenceley, of Redland Grove, said: "I went in to buy a bottle of white wine for cooking – I wasn't even going to drink it – and the man serving asked me if I had any ID.
"I said 'yes' and showed him my photo driving licence but he said he didn't believe it was mine.
"The picture is six years old and I do look young, but I'm 23. I graduated from Cardiff University two years ago.
"He asked me if I had my passport but I didn't, so I showed him my bank card which had my name on it but he still wouldn't serve me.
5 comments:
This is a classic case of 'damned if they do, damned if they don't', though. Had Ellen been 17 and bought the wine successfully Threshers would have had an equally hostile reception.
The driving license thing is odd, though. They should of course have accepted ID.
I think the point was that the chap asked all the customers in the shop to verify her age, despite the ID.
I spoke to Ellen today and she said it had made her feel quite awful at the time.
Ellen: give it a couple of years and you'll be THRILLED anyone would ask. Trust me :(
You obviously haven't met Ellen when she's got a thirst on.
Absolutely understand shops needs to ask for ID, I know I look young. The thing that outraged me was the way he handled the situation and humiliated me in front of other shoppers. Plus, I don't see what other ID I could have given him, my passport is always at home!
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