Somerfield tightens up alcohol sales policy |
| Monday, 30 June 2008 | |||||
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Somerfield is toughening up its rules on alcohol sales by introducing an under-25s rule for all purchases. The new rules, which come into force on 16 July 2008, mean that anyone attempting to buy alcohol who appears to be under the age of 25 should be challenged to prove they are over 18 before a sale can be made. Previously, only customers looking under 21 have been required to provide photographic identification. Somerfield will continue to sell alcohol to those over the age of 18 if suitable identification is provided. John Cleland, retail director for Somerfield, said: "Attempted purchases of alcohol by or for under-age consumers is still a major issue for the retail sector. "The warm summer months are often more challenging and with this in mind we have changed our policy for requiring proof of a customer's age from 21 years to anyone that is fortunate enough to look under 25 years old. “This will become our new standard from 16 July and is underpinned by full retraining of all our service colleagues, clear signage inside and outside stores and regular customer announcements in store." Related Articles
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Julie Adams
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I just wanted to add... I just wanted to add to this by attaching a copy of a letter of complaint I recently sent to Somerfield in St James Street, Brighton: I have just returned from visting your store at 5a St James Street, Brighton, BN1 1RE and wish to complain on two accounts. I was behind an australian lady in the queue who was buying alcohol. The lady was asked for ID she stated that she was 24 (which she definitely looked) but happily provided her pa*sport. She was told that this was not acceptable as it was 'Foreign ID'. This seemed utterly ridiculous to me, as on this basis, how could a foreign person ever buy alcohol at all? And, in any case, a pa*sport seems to me to be very good ID. My first complaint is that this is a ridiculous policy. Is it that all foreign people (however old they are or appear to be) cannot buy alcohol in your stores? and if not, then under what conditions would they be permitted to do so? My second complaint is that I am absolutely fed up with the lack of customer services in that particular store. Can you confirm that the staff there actually receive any training in this area at all? Whenever something happens which requires a supervisor, such as the situation I have outlined above, the cashier rings the bell and nothing happens. You can see the supervisor at the front of the store chatting and ignoring it. Today, after the queue had lengthened to twelve people and the bell had been rung several times I decided to go and get them myself. To my surprise as I was explaining the situation to the supervisor she suddenly said 'I've got something else to deal with first' and rushed off! I have the ladys name as I made a note of it from her name badge, but feel it unfair to point the blame at this one individual when the problem seems so systemic. I am hoping that the person who reads this has a better grasp of customer service and will actually reply. It would be good to know that this complaint is listened to and taken seriously. Yours sincerely, J. Adams |
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