Walmart refused to sell alcohol to my girlfriend...

[BlueViolet]

My girlfriend (of five years this November) has been looking forward to her 21st birthday that just passed this weekend since she can finally, legally buy alcohol for herself. She rarely drinks, but it's the concept, I suppose.

First time she goes to buy it, the cashier told her that her ID didn't belong to her. She said her facial features were different. After asking her to get the manager there, she agreed to sell it.

Tonight, my girlfriend wanted to get some wine as we were buying groceries and pet supplies. When we get to the check-out, the cashier demanded to see my ID even though my girlfriend was paying for everything on her bank card. The cashier said she can't sell it to her because we are together even if she is 21.

This is absolutely ridiculous, in my opinion. For one, I could have easily just exited to the parking lot while she was checking out. Two, are they going to start carding children whose parents buy alcohol?

She claimed that a new law was passed that makes it illegal to sell alcohol to anyone who is in the company of someone underage. I couldn't find this law, but I did find laws stating no alcohol is allowed in a home with minors unless the alcohol belongs to parents/guardians or a spouse.

If they did pass a law specific to selling alcohol in the presence of someone underage unless with their parents or spouse, could a husband buy alcohol with his 18-year-old wife, or vice-versa? Why? She's most likely drinking it then, too. Does that mean if I were a boy and we were married, she could purchase it then? What about if she is babysitting my nephew, will they try to card my nephew since she doesn't look old enough to be his mother? I feel there are so many flaws with this "law", not even sure if it is one as no other grocery store around her requires that.

I'm mostly upset over this because my girlfriend has had a really terrible week starting the day before her birthday, she almost had a panic attack in Walmart, then they refuse to sell to her after already having given her a hard time before. They never even asked for my ID the first time she bought alcohol, and the cashier sincerely didn't believe it was her ID in the first place.

What are your thoughts?

 

[LacieLaPlante]

This recently happened to me in Massachusetts AND New Hampshire.

I wasn't allowed to buy liquor in New Hampshire at the grocery store when my cousin was with me - we were buying groceries and I decided I wanted mikes hard lemonades.. He left and I went back to the store, they told me I wasnt allowed to buy for 24 hours!!

Then in Massachusetts I wasn't allowed to buy liquor with my LEGAL STATE ID, that I got TWO MONTHS AGO.. because it's not a liquor license. But if you have a drivers license and are over 21, you're legal to buy liquor - no license, must pay 20 dollars for your ID to say "Liquor ID"

I raged like a child in the store.

 

[SoTxBob]

WallyWorld? Nothing ever surprises me about that place any more. Live and learn where you can/can't buy easily.

I've always been curious tho about all the 18-20 yr old camgirls getting wasted on cam... as far as if there could be and ramifications for them since you can be damn sure its not her parents supplying the booze. IDK anywhere else, but here a parent can purchase a drink for their kid if they choose.

 

[BlueViolet]

I've always been curious tho about all the 18-20 yr old camgirls getting wasted on cam... as far as if there could be and ramifications for them since you can be damn sure its not her parents supplying the booze.

I've never done it, but I think they might be able to claim it isn't actually alcohol and they are just "acting". Like claim it is water or juice or something.

This recently happened to me in Massachusetts AND New Hampshire.

I wasn't allowed to buy liquor in New Hampshire at the grocery store when my cousin was with me - we were buying groceries and I decided I wanted mikes hard lemonades.. He left and I went back to the store, they told me I wasnt allowed to buy for 24 hours!!

Then in Massachusetts I wasn't allowed to buy liquor with my LEGAL STATE ID, that I got TWO MONTHS AGO.. because it's not a liquor license. But if you have a drivers license and are over 21, you're legal to buy liquor - no license, must pay 20 dollars for your ID to say "Liquor ID"

I raged like a child in the store.

:shock: That's absolutely insane. You have to pay $20 just to be allowed to buy alcohol?

For us, it's not a huge deal because I turn twenty-one in 20 days, but it's just the concept that I have to show my ID when I'm not buying any of it. I rarely carry my ID on me as it is, and it's unfair to my girlfriend to not be allowed to buy something she is legal to buy now because I don't like carrying a wallet or purse or just showing people my ID. (She honestly carries all my shit in her purse...)

 

[Rose]

BJ and I have dealt with this issue since we first met. Heck, I was 16 when we met and they wouldn't even let him buy cigarettes if I was with him. I'm not even allowed to enter liquor stores here either. He tried to buy a couple beers from the gas station a few weeks ago when I was buying a candy bar and they refused us service because they assumed the beers (ewwy!) were for me. Can't say I'm surprised.

My advice, just wait outside or make your purchases separate from the booze.

 

[Rileyster]

In Texas, most grocery stores, liquor places, etc will ID everyone in the group of late teens/20 somethings if one person is buying alcohol. Obviously it's a different story if it's an adult and child, most would assume it's a parent/kid situation. It's actually a policy in most places.. I can't remember the exact TABC law since it's been a while since I took a course. But yeah. I haven't had underage friends in a while but whenever I would go to a grocery store with an underage friend, I always had her go ahead and head to the car before I go to check out. Cashiers have the right to refuse alcohol to you if one peer in the group is underage.

 

[SweepTheLeg]

My experience with Alcohol and ID is I didn't start getting ID'ed until after I turned 21, but then again I live in Wisconsin so that might have something to do with it?

Is there a liqour store you could go buy booze from instead of from Walmart? I'd like to think it wouldn't be as hectic of a situation there by simply trying to buy some alcohol.

 

[mynameisbob84]

Yeah, we have similar laws in the UK. If two people come into a store buying alcohol together and one of them is under 18 (the age at which you can legally get wasted in the UK), the cashier can't make the sale lest they open themselves up to a £5,000 fine and a criminal record. I'm guessing you guys have similar deterrents in place. I don't blame the cashier at all. They just didn't want the fine and the criminal record. You could argue it's a silly law but I guess it's there to make underage drinking as difficult as possible, which I guess is fair enough.
Chalk it up to a lesson learned and just stay away from the checkout when your friend buys her booze

 

[SweepTheLeg]

That's one retarded law that I have never heard of or seen enforced.

 

[mynameisbob84]

Yeah, we have similar laws in the UK. If two people come into a store buying alcohol together and one of them is under 18 (the age at which you can legally get wasted in the UK), the cashier can't make the sale lest they open themselves up to a £5,000 fine and a criminal record. I'm guessing you guys have similar deterrents in place. I don't blame the cashier at all. They just didn't want the fine and the criminal record. You could argue it's a silly law but I guess it's there to make underage drinking as difficult as possible, which I guess is fair enough.
Chalk it up to a lesson learned and just stay away from the checkout when your friend buys her booze

I understand the laws in place here. When I was 17 working at a grocery store I saw a women get arrested during a sting for not carding someone. We were always told if they didn't look 30 to card or if two people came in looking under 30 to card them both. However, we were never instructed to not sell if an adult was there with someone who was obviously a little kid. I was pretty shocked they would expect ID from my 12 year old daughter in order to sell me beer. She doesn't look like a teenager or young adult. Seemed a bit excessive to me that a parent now cant buy a 6 pack of beer or a bottle of wine if they are grocery shopping with their kids.

My post was more aimed at the OP. I would agree in your case, that it's not something you'd expect to happen.

 

[Mirra]

I've heard of issues like this with alcohol purchases. Had never heard of it being used on a parent with a child before so Cammi's situation is new to me (and a bit crazy) but have heard of other cases where it happened. It's all about covering your ass if you're the clerk or the store. The way the tobacco and alcohol laws are written they may not specifically prohibit such sales but retailers have to cover their asses because the fines can get really high for those types of things. It's easy for them to claim no fault in the case of someone buying controlled substances for someone underage if the clerk never sees the underage person. If the clerk does witness an underage person with the purchaser of the controlled substance, they're expected to be cautious and can sometimes be fined for not doing so.

It's a pretty simple matter for an underage person to go stand by the door when it's time to check out (even when the alcohol is intended for them) so I guess I don't see what all the commotion is about generally speaking. It's the stores protecting themselves from fines. The enforcers of these things can be rather zealous at times.

Edit: I've actually just remembered a time myself and 2 co-workers were carded when trying to buy chocolate milk (we had a craving... don't judge us) because the person in front of us bought alcohol and the clerk thought we were together. It happens. We explained the situation and were all over 21 anyhow so it wasn't a big deal.

 

[SweepTheLeg]

I remember a time at six flags that a server refused to sell my dad who was in his 30s at the time a beer because he didn't have his id on him. I think that was the beginning of us starting to hate Illinois (Well except for the Chicago Bears of course)

 

[Jessi]

:shock: You can buy liquor at walmart?! You crazy americans.
Ive gone into liquor stores with my parents as young as 5 and as old at 18. My boyfriend would buy liquor for me I picked out, in my company, while I was underage. Here only the person buying needs to be ID'd. Y'all should come up here and drink with meeee :lol: :mrgreen:

 

[Rileyster]

:shock: You can buy liquor at walmart?! You crazy americans.
Ive gone into liquor stores with my parents as young as 5 and as old at 18. My boyfriend would buy liquor for me I picked out, in my company, while I was underage. Here only the person buying needs to be ID'd. Y'all should come up here and drink with meeee :lol: :mrgreen:

Haha buying liquor or beer in Walmart surprised the hell out of me when I left for college.. It wasn't allowed in my hometown so I grew up with WalMart without alcohol. Boy.. now when I go to my hometown I bitch about Walmart not carrying beer :lol:

 

[Rose]

I can understand why they won't sell booze to parents if their kids are with them. Around here it's standard for parents to buy the alcohol with the intent to give it to their kids. This was such an issue when I was in middle and high school that they've since stopped selling to parents if kids under 21 are with them.

 

[BlueViolet]

I wasn't upset at the cashier or anything, it's not her fault. I used to work at a grocery store for a long time so I know the fines along with selling to someone underage. But at the same time, I was told that I could only ask for the ID of whoever was physically paying for the item. I remember several times I'd have to refuse to someone who didn't have an ID, but then the person who was with them was like, "No, it's okay, I'll pay for it then," and I had to sell it to the person paying.

I am just annoyed at the concept of the law. It doesn't really prevent anything, as it was pointed out that I should just go stand by the door. If it's that easy then why is that law a law? The concept is silly. A little off the original topic but I really don't even like drinking and I'm adamant against drunk driving but I still believe that if you are legally an adult at 18, then why are you still "underage" for three more years? I feel like if you don't have all the privileges of being an adult until you are 21, then society should just make up its mind and say you aren't an adult until you are 21. Men shouldn't have to register for selective service until the are 21, and since our brains aren't developed enough for proper decision making that until we are legally 21, then why are we allowed to enter into legally binding contracts such as getting credit cards and leasing apartments or homes?

 

[Shaun__]

I am just annoyed at the concept of the law. It doesn't really prevent anything, as it was pointed out that I should just go stand by the door. If it's that easy then why is that law a law? The concept is silly. A little off the original topic but I really don't even like drinking and I'm adamant against drunk driving but I still believe that if you are legally an adult at 18, then why are you still "underage" for three more years? I feel like if you don't have all the privileges of being an adult until you are 21, then society should just make up its mind and say you aren't an adult until you are 21. Men shouldn't have to register for selective service until the are 21, and since our brains aren't developed enough for proper decision making that until we are legally 21, then why are we allowed to enter into legally binding contracts such as getting credit cards and leasing apartments or homes?

Governments like controlling people. The reason the alcohol buying age in America is 21 is the Federal government withholds road money from states that lower it. I think a lot of states let you drink younger if your parents supervise you and buy it.

 

[LadyLuna]

Worked at gas stations in two different states, both very heavily Christian (one's in the bible belt, one might as well be).

In both states, I was told that if I didn't card everyone in the group I could get in trouble for them sharing.

I also found out that in some states, it's illegal even for a parent to give alcohol to their children. I think THAT is bullshit.

 

[SweepTheLeg]

There's a sign near a elementary school by me that reads "Parent's who host lost a most" talking about parents holding parties for their kids and buying alcohol. I just think its fun that it's near an elementary school.

I don't know if that law exists here of everyone in a group gets carded or the person buying it is the only one that gets carded. Either case it's a retarded law, as long as the kid is waiting for you outside you can buy all the alcohol you want. Well huh.

 

[Bocefish]

If you want more government control, re-elect Obama :thumbleft:

 

[Nordling]

If you want more government control, re-elect Obama :thumbleft:

If you really want more government control, elect Romney. He'll outlaw alcohol entirely (Mormon) and make it easier for billionaires to hide their cash from even minimum taxation.

 

[Bocefish]

If you want more government control, re-elect Obama :thumbleft:

If you really want more government control, elect Romney. He'll outlaw alcohol entirely (Mormon) and make it easier for billionaires to hide their cash from even minimum taxation.

Brilliant argument :lol:

I couldn't resist earlier... let's call a truce and be political in forums meant as such. :thumbleft:

The laws are law. Don't blame the cashier. Get involved and learn, be a part of what you believe is right and stop accepting your freedoms being lost incrementally day by day.

 

[tubby556]

I think a lot of states let you drink younger if your parents supervise you and buy it.

My home state of Wisconsin is one of them. If you're under 21 and you're with your parents or legal guardians, you can drink alcohol, but not served. The bartender has to give the drink to the parent/guardian and then the parent/guardian passes it to you. The bars also make the parent/guardian sign off on liability (which in this shitty country means nothing).

 

[SweepTheLeg]

When my sister was underage my mom would be present both with the bouncer, I believe she had to wear a bracelet just to prove my mom was present with her at the time. I forget if my mom had to buy the drinks for her too or not, this usually happened during birthdays where endless amount of drinks showed up out of mid air.

 

[tubby556]

If you want more government control, re-elect Obama :thumbleft:

If you really want more government control, elect Romney. He'll outlaw alcohol entirely (Mormon) and make it easier for billionaires to hide their cash from even minimum taxation.

Alcohol prohibition was tried in the US for over 13 years and failed. The Prohibitionists created the exact thing they were trying to prevent. They admitted they were wrong and Prohibition was repealed. There is no chance alcohol prohibition will be reinstated under a Mormon president. Congress as a whole will drop kick that legislation out of committee as fast as you can blink.

Furthermore, why the fuck would anyone pay more in taxes than they are legally required to pay? The top half of income earners pay income tax while the bottom 50% pay no income tax and receive a tax return on top of it? Oh, BP and GE paid no income taxes last year. They are following the tax laws just like the poor people do; neither of which paid any net taxes and both got tax returns. The only ones to lodge complaint with are Congress, because you elected them and they made the tax laws.

 

[SweepTheLeg]

I think Nordling was just being facetious towards BoceFish's comment and didn't mean to spark a political debate. God damn it Nordling, look what you did!

 

[Evvie]

Worked at gas stations in two different states, both very heavily Christian (one's in the bible belt, one might as well be).

In both states, I was told that if I didn't card everyone in the group I could get in trouble for them sharing.

I also found out that in some states, it's illegal even for a parent to give alcohol to their children. I think THAT is bullshit.

Thank god I got my drinking binge alcohol experimentation bullshit phase over when I was 16 and still living with my parents.

I fear the things I would have done if I started drinking when I was older. If I had started drinking after I became comfortable with sex, I can only imagine the endless fun rapey possibilities.

...Feed your kids liquor when they're young.

Oh also, the first time you give them pot, put some salvia in that shit with thc and get them high out of their minds. That'll keep the little bastards away for a few more years xD

 

[BlueViolet]

Worked at gas stations in two different states, both very heavily Christian (one's in the bible belt, one might as well be).

In both states, I was told that if I didn't card everyone in the group I could get in trouble for them sharing.

I also found out that in some states, it's illegal even for a parent to give alcohol to their children. I think THAT is bullshit.

I live in deep Bible Belt, the grocery store I used to work at used to host the local Christian radio station every week and collard greens were always sold out (and god, I hated trying to scan a huge tub of frozen chitlins...). They were really strict about alcohol sales, but I was told that as long as the person purchasing showed me their ID, it didn't matter who was with them or if the stuff was even there's. I remember watching someone hand the money to their friend in front of me.

I think it's funny that when you said you think it's bullshit for some states to not allow parents to give their children alcohol, I was a bit shocked at first that states actually allowed that. I'm really surprised that some states allow parents to give their children alcohol in restaurants. Places around here will watch you like a hawk if they think you might slip someone underage a drink, even their children. I don't see anything wrong with it, but I was just really surprised that places actually allowed that.

 

[SweepTheLeg]

The bible belt sounds like a miserable place that I should avoid at all costs.

 

[Rose]

The bible belt sounds like a miserable place that I should avoid at all costs.

Eh, not completely. Music City is a little more liberal, but you just won't find many sex shops. :lol: