Age Discrimination?
Recently I noticed that a number of Spar newsagents in Dublin City Centre have introduced a policy of only selling alcohol to persons over the age of 21. Despite the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2003 stating that the legal age for the purchase of alcohol is 18.
The argument here is always: management of licensed premises have the right to refuse admission to a person under the age of 21 (or in some places 23). However, the law is different with regards to the actual sale of alcohol in off licences; the law clearly states that 18 is the legal age for the purchase of alcohol.
In my opinion their “store policy” is similar to some retail stores that state that their refund policy covers only 14 days or that they only issue credit notes (or vouchers) as refunds - in other words, their “store policy” is completely invalidated by the law.
This reminds me of the policy that Tesco supermarkets have; to only accept an Age Card as a valid form of photo ID. Despite the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2003, SECTION 15 clearly stating that an “age document” (a document containing a photograph of the person and information that enables the age of the person to be determined) can be any of the following: an age card (aka Garda ID), a passport, an identity card issued by a member state of the European Communities or a driver licence.
The question is, by not selling alcohol to a person that is over the age of 18 and has a legal document to prove so, are they breaking the law?
Personally Spar isn’t a problem for me, as I am over the age of 21. However, with regards to Tesco no longer accepting my Passport… I had a nasty incident in a Tesco supermarket locally, where I argued with the staff that their notices read “If you are under 21 you must show a valid Garda age Card” and being as I am over 21 I did not have to produce a Garda Age Card - and yet they still refused to accept my Passport as proof that I was over 21. Very annoying. I’ll be bringing my business elsewhere from now on.
There is an article on Checkout.ie if you want more information.
