can someone under 18 sell alcohol?

Question

My daughter works for a major supermarket chain. If someone goes to her checkout she has to get someone over 18 to authorise the sale. Recently, during an undercover police operation she was given a fine for selling alcohol to someone under 18 despite following her guidelines of asking the person on the next till. The person who authorised the sale did not get fined. I have looked up the sale of alcohol by a person under 18 and it says that the responsibility is with the licence holder. If they can fine her surely she is guilty of two offences or none? As well as this she was called to the office to be given the caution by an undercover police officer. She was very upset, and told by the manager on duty to return to the checkout immediately or she would face disciplinary action for unauthorised absence. The person who authorised the sale asked my daughter to keep quiet and she would pay the fine (in front of three witnesses). Surely her employer has a duty of care.

Answer 1

when i worked in a super market until my 18th birthday i had to get authorisation from a supervisor



she should be in the clear she followed the guidelines set down by the company she works for



she should stay as calm as she can (not easy in this situation i know)

and stick calmly and simply to her case that she did as she was told to under company guidelines



she should write down exactly what happened asap while it is still clear in her mind so that she can use it in the future as needed good luck i hope it all works out for her

Answer 2

As i have worked in many many pubs and clubs i can tell you if your daughter had to ask for authorisation to sell the alcohol it is NOT your daughters responsibilty if the person who purchased the alcohol is under 18, it is the licence holder and/or the employer.



I know this cos i have too made the mistake of selling alcohol to someone who was underage, they got caught by under cover police i was not responsible it was the employer (Bass) to pay the fine.

Answer 3

You can sell alcohol if your under 18 if some one sees you do it, so the way that your daughter was told to do it is correct.

She shouldn't have got the fine however the person who authorised the sale should have got the caution and the fine.

Answer 4

The police have done the same thing in our city, with beer and cigarettes. Every single time someone was arrested or fined, it was the person who actually SOLD the product, not the person who authorized it or held the license. It stinks, but for some reason, the license owner doesn't get in trouble. Maybe it's time you called your local officials and try to get a city ordinance passed or your state senator and get a state law passed changing this. What would happen, of course, would be that stores wouldn't hire people under 18 as cashiers.

Answer 5

You have to be 18 or over to legally sell alcohol. Her employer should not be authorising her to sell it - the customer should have to go to another till to purchase their alcohol from a cashier who is over 18. She should talk to a local citizens advice bureau to confirm this and to see what action she can take towards her employer.

Answer 6

I think it's the licence holders responsibility. Above pub doors as another example it has the name of the licence holder and it is them who has the licence taken away for any wrong doing and they are fully in charge of their licence and the staff that sell on his/her behalf.

Answer 7

as it was authorised by somebody over 18

they should have been fined not your daughter

have a word with a union rep if they have a union

Answer 8

that's a crock the licence holder is responsible not her nor other employees. as well she is a minor so shouldn't get a fine for such a crap misdemeanour.

Answer 9

the way that i undrestand the law is no if you are under18 you can not sell or buy alcohol

Answer 10

do not let the supermarket get away with this

Answer 11

I smell lawsuit!!! And I'm sure you will win.

Answer 12

nope, she can't' drink it or sell it, until 21