Today we enjoyed news from two supermarket chains.
First out of the block comes news of the supermarket that refused to sell a bottle of gin to a couple because they were accompanied by their underage daughters.
Apparently Gary Sprake and his wife, Jackie, had been shopping at Lidl in Waterlooville, Hampshire, together with 14-year-old Ella-May and 11-year-old Rosa-May when they picked up a bottle of rhubarb gin as they were later visiting a friend’s house for a drinks party.
But the cashier demanded to see ID for 14-year old, Ella-May even though her parents insisted that they would never let her touch a drop of the stuff.
Mr Sprake even tried to buy the booze at a separate check out but was refused.
Things became heated as other customers became frustrated by the delays, with one of them threatening to effect a citizen’s arrest.
The store manager intervened but backed up his staff and asked the couple to leave the store before himself calling the police. Mr Sprake even attempted to call Lidl’s head office.
Mr Sprake said later that Lidl should be ashamed of themselves. “I wonder where the line on this policy is drawn. If I had a four-year-old, would I not be able to get a drink? And if I do go back to that store, which is unlikely, will I not be able to buy alcohol because they know I have a daughter? The whole thing is ridiculous,” he said.
A Lidl spokesman defended the store’s ID policy, saying: “It is never our intention for a customer to be dissatisfied in any way, however we are committed to selling alcohol responsibly. Whilst these actions may appear over-cautious, we support our colleagues in using their own judgement to uphold our ‘Think 25’ policy and, where there is any element of doubt, making the right decision.”
So there you have it!
Meanwhile over in Thornton Heath Tesco employee, Atif Masood is suing the supermarket for £20,000 after a fellow worker broke wind in his face.
Mr Masood, claims that the incident is tantamount to harassment and racial discrimination and amounted to bullying and says he was targeted because he is a Muslim.
His claim states that he has been a victim of ‘unwanted conduct which had the purpose or effect of violating his dignity or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating and/or offensive’ [situation], and in the ‘act of breaking wind in the claimant’s face, a smelly environment for him because of his race.’
Legal papers issued on behalf of Tesco state that ‘For the avoidance of any doubt, the respondents deny that they discriminated against (whether directly or indirectly), harassed or victimised the claimant because of, or for a reason related to race, religion or belief, as alleged in the claim form, or at all.’
A hearing is due to take place next year!
See you again tomorrow,
Scott
