Another blog post in the category “The incredible life of (non UK) EU citizens in the UK” (Part 1 here)
Imagine you are a Belgian citizen and you just turned 27. You move to the UK to do research at one of the leading universities. So far so good. Thanks to EU legislation, there are no problems getting your previous qualifications recognised. Although the UK is not member of Schengen it is enough to present a ID card at the border to enter the country. Obviously you do not need a visa or a passport. Anyway most of EU citizens just carry their ID cards with them, some do not even have passports and, anyway, we tend to store our passports at home in the cupboard in case we travel to weird destinations next summer. So what can possibly go wrong with living in the UK you might ask?
Well, although you are 27 you might look younger than 25 which can be a problem (although this is hard to imagine!) So on any given Wednesday you pop into your local Sainsbury’s to buy a bottle of wine. (For those of you who have been in the UK you might be aware of a small alcohol problem regarding under-age drinking…) Since the shop assistant thinks you look under 25 (in normal circumstances this is a compliment!) she asks for a proof of identity as the shop policy requires her to check everyone who looks under 25 whether he or she is over 18.
First, you might be a bit surprised as you did not expect this question. But, thanks to old habits you carry your Belgian ID card with you and present it to the shop assistant. After all it is one of the most advanced ID cards in Europe and does not look like a library card.
“Sorry we do not accept ID cards – only passports and British driving licenses” the shop assistant informs you. Your reply: “But in the alcohol department I saw a poster with all means of identification – including ID cards” (which is of course rather funny as there are no UK ID cards yet…) – “Sorry, no exceptions.” she answers. “I can show you the poster if you want?” But she clarifies ”We do not accept ID cards!” – “But this is my national ID card issued by the Belgian state and you can see here that I am 27 years old” – “Sorry, I cannot accept it!”
So, why do we have ID cards (ID is short for identity document!!) if this is still happening in the EU? Why is the ID accepted to enter the country, to open a UK bank account, to vote in local UK and European elections. Probably you can even open your own supermarket – but it is really not accepted to proof your age in a supermarket? Is it discrimination? Well, as the branch manager of Sainsbury’s explained later: “Discriminatory behavior would include different prizes for UK citizens and foreign citizens…but the supermarket can decide what kind of ID it accepts”
I am not convinced! And I would feel discriminated against. I think this is ridiculous and I wonder whether there is any EU/national legislation which could be used in this case…I still hope this was a decision of a couple of stubborn employees and not the official company policy….
And just to make it clear: This really happened (!), however, luckily there are other supermarkets and the evening eventually included a bottle of wine!
Another blog post in the category “The incredible life of (non UK) EU citizens in the UK” (Part 1 here)
Imagine you are a Belgian citizen and you just turned 27. You move to the UK to do research at one of the leading universities. So far so good. Thanks to EU legislation, there are no problems getting your previous qualifications recognised. Although the UK is not member of Schengen it is enough to present a ID card at the border to enter the country. Obviously you do not need a visa or a passport. Anyway most of EU citizens just carry their ID cards with them, some do not even have passports and, anyway, we tend to store our passports at home in the cupboard in case we travel to weird destinations next summer. So what can possibly go wrong with living in the UK you might ask?
Well, although you are 27 you might look younger than 25 which can be a problem (although this is hard to imagine!) So on any given Wednesday you pop into your local Sainsbury's to buy a bottle of wine. (For those of you who have been in the UK you might be aware of a small alcohol problem regarding under-age drinking...) Since the shop assistant thinks you look under 25 (in normal circumstances this is a compliment!) she asks for a proof of identity as the shop policy requires her to check everyone who looks under 25 whether he or she is over 18.
First, you might be a bit surprised as you did not expect this question. But, thanks to old habits you carry your Belgian ID card with you and present it to the shop assistant. After all it is one of the most advanced ID cards in Europe and does not look like a library card.
“Sorry we do not accept ID cards – only passports and British driving licenses” the shop assistant informs you. Your reply: “But in the alcohol department I saw a poster with all means of identification - including ID cards” (which is of course rather funny as there are no UK ID cards yet...) - “Sorry, no exceptions.” she answers. “I can show you the poster if you want?” But she clarifies ”We do not accept ID cards!” - “But this is my national ID card issued by the Belgian state and you can see here that I am 27 years old” - “Sorry, I cannot accept it!”
So, why do we have ID cards (ID is short for identity document!!) if this is still happening in the EU? Why is the ID accepted to enter the country, to open a UK bank account, to vote in local UK and European elections. Probably you can even open your own supermarket - but it is really not accepted to proof your age in a supermarket? Is it discrimination? Well, as the branch manager of Sainsbury's explained later: “Discriminatory behavior would include different prizes for UK citizens and foreign citizens...but the supermarket can decide what kind of ID it accepts”
I am not convinced! And I would feel discriminated against. I think this is ridiculous and I wonder whether there is any EU/national legislation which could be used in this case...I still hope this was a decision of a couple of stubborn employees and not the official company policy....
And just to make it clear: This really happened (!), however, luckily there are other supermarkets and the evening eventually included a bottle of wine!
English shop assistants were/are famous for being unable to accept Scottish or Northern Irish sterling notes. They don’t even know they exist. I wouldn’t take it personally. Just take your money elsewhere next time.
I didn’t know that an ID card was enough to cross the Schengen line.
@Coleman
These new identity cards are pretty sophisticated, with security features absent in old passports.
@Kosmopolit
In principle, all discrimination on grounds of nationality is prohibited in the internal market, but easier than going to court would be to a) ask discriminating companies to place visible posters at the entrance of their discriminatory practices (to save people time), and b) for people to spread the word (as you have done), and c) for smart customers to shop elsewhere (as Coleman suggested).
@Sainsbury
Do you hear us?
@UK government and media
Why not educate your public, including businesses? Great for tourism etc.
Although the Lisbon Treaty means that the unelected bureaucrats in Brussels can make whatever rules they like, so far the member states of the EU can set their own internal ID rules. Except that if one member state declares a certain document to be valid ID for its citizens, every other state must also recognise that document. But this requirement is only mandated on the state, not on businesses. In effect, Sainsburys can set their own rules legally. As the manager pointed out, the only thing they cannot do is discriminate. This raises an interesting question. If the British ID card is successful (unlikely, but bear with me) then it is arguable that it would be discriminatory for them to accept UK ID cards, but not those of other countries.
There is a major problem here. It is tough for workers to know what valid locally issued ID looks like. Distinguishing, say, a valid Czech ID card from a fake, could be very challenging. An alternative would be to train staff to recognise under age people by looking at them, instead of their ID. (The state of Oregon requires all those serving alcohol to do this.) But then, when did a shop assistant last look at a customer in Sainsburys.
By the way, English shop assistants do not have to accept Scottish or Northern Irish notes because they are not legal tender in England and Wales. Bank of England notes are legal tender throughout the UK.
@ Simon Evans
European identity cards, including security features, are standardised. Makes it easier for workers and businesses – at least the smarter ones.
Sainsbury's does not accept ID cards!? – Kosmopolito: Well, although you are 27 you might look younger than.. http://bit.ly/6L6568
RT @kosmopolit Blogged about life in the #UK, #Sainsburys and #IDcards @kosmopolito http://ow.ly/LdEa
Fab piece by @kosmopolit about UK identity card stupidities http://tr.im/HN3i If it's any solace my NHS doctor didn't like my diving license
Sort of in reply to Bethany – would have been *very* funny if they thought Kosmopolit was under 18…
This also made me think of this story:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2009/oct/11/morrisons-wine-ban-mother
A mother was prevented from buying wine because her 17 year old daughter was shopping with her!
I had the same problem in Hungary in a supermarket – my little brother (who is 16) was with me and the shop assistant wanted to id him as well… In the end I won the argument but again it is ridiculous. Legally it is not his responsibility if I would buy alcohol for a minor (which was not the case) but mine.
My friend went into Sainsburys on Saturday with her 17 year old son to buy beer, she was asked for ID, not for him, but for herself. He would not serve her without it. She is 43. Joke!
same thing happened to yet another Belgian friend of mine. Her ID was not accepted to get a Railcard … only passports! The stupid station manager has probably never been in continental Europe.
RT @kosmopolito: Sainsbury’s does not accept ID cards!? – Kosmopolito http://bit.ly/68YTXE ID insanities #idcards
The same happened to me in Ireland, in a TESCO! I’m Hungarian and they required my passport, which I, of course, did not have on me. They told me that it was due to a resolution of the Irish government. I then reminded them of the immediate applicability of the EU law, but it did not seem to have any effect. Since then I’ve been thinking about writing a letter to the customers’ rights commissioner but haven’t done it yet. But it’s good to know that I’m not alone with this problem.
well what can i say i am a fellow Belgian and i must say the ignorance is massive i got told yesterday that the Belgian ID is not part of the EU …!!!! Beat that so now were not part of the EU according to some Ignorant Manager in an office………. that was the highlight of my day… i accept that one has not seen an id but to state Belgium is not part of it they obviously are secluded and live in a box……………..
I just will take the sainsburys to the court now…..as someone have to stop them….
They said that Belgium is not part of the EU? I would have asked: ‘Are you suggesting then that I have entered the UK illegally? What’s stopping you from calling the UK Home Office to report me?”
I really feel that ALL store employees should go on a mandatory boot camp about ID validation and counterfeiting inspection. They are talking absolute BULLSHIT if they claim that Belgium is not a member of the EU. I think they confuse us with people showing void Czechoslowakian passports or something… it can only be Czech or Slowakian nowadays of course. Apparently some American citizens still refer absolutely falsely to ‘Czechoslowakia’ which is an outright scandal, they should never allow such ignorant cows to enroll for a BA in International politics or International relations, they’d just breed a pack of ignorant Sarah Palin clones claiming that North Korea are their allies and total other nonsense crap…
Hi there, i am a Sainsbury’s employee as a cashier and checkout supervisor. And no matter how much i hate working there, I’ve have never heard anything so crazy as this! Of course Sainsbury’s accepts ID Cards! As far as i know, we accept:
For UK residence: Citizen Card, Portmans’ Proof of age card, cards cards displayed on the The National Proof of Age Standards Scheme website, UK Drivers Licence and UK passports.
For non UK residence: Original Passport of the country you reside, Drivers licence and National ID of the country you reside in.
As long as the ID is Valid (within the valid from and valid to dates) and has not been tampered with in any way, it should be ok.
May i ask, did u ask to talk to a manger about this incident?
I don’t know whether my fried talked to the manager at this particular incident or whether he was so shocked that he just left the shop.
And I know this is not the official Sainsbury’s policy which would indeed be a scandal. But the problem seems to exist as some of the other comments revealed. And this is not a Sainsbury’s problem as it happens in other shops as well. The question is why that happens. Is it because the employees are not properly trained or because they fear harsh consequences if they make a mistake? Or is it something else?
The consequences are quite harsh, if anyone is caught selling age restricted products (alcohol, knives, games, dvd’s) to anyone under the required age, you have the risk of an 1) on-the-spot fine, 2) disciplinary action possibly leading to dismissal 3) criminal record. The licence holder (one of the managers in the store) may also face the same/similar consequences as he is also kept responsible along with the staff who made the illegal sale. So yes, there is a lot of pressure, and most people don’t want to get close to risking it so they become really hesitant on deciding what to accept.
hi i have just got my provisional driving license because my passport went out of date 3 years ago and places have started not to accept it im just wondering is my provisional classed as valid id to purchase alcohol and such
thanks
Quit getting upset. I’m a Sainsburys employee. It’s company policy. Contact head office they write the rules they will say the same thing.
If it bothers you that much there are other supermarkets. This annoys us as much as it annoys you. Stop trying to debate with everyone and accept that ANY store can legally refuse anyone.
This policy has been company policy for quite a while and isn’t made up by the evil dumb cashier who is serving you.
http://www2.sainsburys.co.uk/YourIdeas/forums/13930/ShowThread.aspx#13930
OA, I’m not sure you are a sainsburys employee at all!
Hi there, i think happening because the stuff not trained enough….everybody just leaving within few months(weeks like me)…..i used to work at the sainsburys, where my incident happened actually today, you can read it here somewhere, and i remembered at the training that we had to accept from non uk citizens the following: Their Original ID card, driving licence or passport…..thats it,,,,easy isntit?? Gabriella
Hello:) Yes, i did speak to the manager…..but he still did not accepted our europian diving licence, national insurance cards, Lloyds bank cards and plus my barclays bank kard and Nectar card:DD Please help me to find the sainsburys policy about this please, thank you very much!! Gabriella Herhoff
hope you did not loose your job cos told us the truth. Gabriella
I have also had a problem with ID at the Sainsburys in Oxford City Centre (Westgate). I have been using my New Zealand Drivers Licence as ID to buy alcohol since I entered the UK nearly 2 years ago. Last weekend all of a sudden it was not valid ID at this particular store. The check out staff was really rude including bitching (there is no better word) with thier check out supervisor about someone who had given the ‘stick’ about this policy last week. They would not even answer me when I asked when the policy had changed. I finally got the answer ‘about 2 weeks ago’. I left and went to M & S down the road where they didn’t even ask for ID. Is there not a standard rule throughout the UK for what ID is accepted? I can’t find anything on the internet that will tell me. I am not carrying my passport around in case I would like to borrow a bottle of wine as I ahve already had the Home Office hold onto it for 1 year (whilst sitting on my residence card application) and had Royal Mail loose it when they were on strike. Can anyone tell me exactly what the Government says about what ID is acceptable?
Sorry by borrow I mean buy! Freudian slip!
I also had the same problem in Ireland with my Spanish ID.
I have just experienced the same humiliation in Morrisons in Bradford ( http://www.morrisons.co.uk ).
My trolley contained about £50-£60 worth of foods as well as a bottle of wine which I wanted to use for cooking.
I am used to be checked for IDs, I’m in the UK since a long time now and never had any problem when I shown my French ID card even though I’m nearly 30.
No to say that this afternoon it was one of this day where the cashier ask for my ID and when presented with all my IDs (French driving licence & National ID & even a UK credit card which can not be obtained under 18). They have all been refused on the ground that they are non British IDs. I’ve asked to speak with the manager and the manager was even more unpleasant than the cashier!
The whole ‘procedure’ was scandalous and you feel like being treated as criminals because of your Nationality. Sure shops can not tell if the ID is a fake or not but for crying out loud we are not crossing any borders and clearly our IDs does not look cheap fakes especially when you show two of them.
Morrisons, and CO., let me tell you this is unacceptable we are customers and be treated as such.
The point to ask for the ID when you buy alcohol in UK is to check your age and picture our ID fit this purpose. I have seen 20 years old kids showing a ‘bus photo ID’ without any problem in the same shops, and to me this tend to be a discrimination.
My stew and all the others to come will be cooked with a bottle of beer bought at the local pub or from my local wine shop…
yeah i know what you mean…. i am living at the uk 5 years ago, have even a nectar card but were threated as criminals today at the sainsburys cos wanted to buy a lager to my boyfriend….after 5 years……just read my notes….i will go to the court about this if anyone want to come feel free to join…Gabriella Herhoff 07882639360.
I have just experienced the same thing at co-op. The member of staff asked me for an ID. I showed her my Polish driving licence and she said that they don’t accept ”Polish documents” and that I should get some citizenship card as a foreign person (maybe I should tatoo my number on the left shoulder?!?!?!?!?). I was so angryyyyy. Then she said, that anyway I looked over 25 so she decided to sell me my beer…..safe hahaha. Well tomorrow I am going to talk to the manager and will put a formal complaint…….lets see what happens next.
[...] aware of the fact that I am quite interested in this topic, see for example my posts about the Sainsbury ID issue and my UK bank account [...]
This happened to me aswell. I am german, nearly 2 meters tall, have a full beard and on top of that… I am actually 28 years old.
Tried buying cigarettes, showed my drivers licence (rejected), visa card (rejected) and demanded to talk to the manager without success.
Surely this must fall under discrimination, as the poster outside clearly says… A valid photo ID.
I even tried explaining that I can cross borders with my licence, but that apparently didn’t make sense. Showed my uni card, which was issued many many years ago (british), but also without success.
The funny thing is, that I have been shopping at that coop for more than a year now and most of the employees have seen me atleast a dozen times.
I can understand that it’s important to check for things like that, but this just reached a new level and I without doubt feel discriminated!
I demand retribution!
Hi,
I believe that it is not the biggest problem if you cannot buy alcohol, because STUPID British employees keep ignoring that the EEA id cards are as good as passports in the EEA.
I am a Hungarian citiizen, living in the UK for 5 years, I have a valid Hungarian national ID card an expired passport and a valid Registration certificate (also knowns as blue card that’s purpose is to confirm my right to work in the UK).
However, basically ALL UK employers state that they only accept passports, however THEY MUST NOT SAY THAT!!!!!!!!! As the EEA id cards are as good as passports in the EEA, whenever a passport is asked for, the EEA national ID card MUST BE ACCPETED as a passport.
To be clear: throughout the European Economic Area, an EEA country issued national ID card IS a passport.
hi, did you go to the court? just read my story, i will to go there now. Gabriella
And how is your story? Did you go to the court?
Today it happened to me in Iceland shop! It’s rediculous! I am so angry and I see it as clear discrimination and not obeying EU law.
Same thing happened to me, today! Me and the husband wanted to buy a bottle of alcohol at Waitrose! I’m 25, the husband 28! For the first time, in two years, all of our forms of ID were denied. We are both Portuguese, and we had both our driving licenses as well as our national id cards. After asking to talk to the manager, he showed the list of documents accepted:
1. ENGLISH age card
2. ENGLISH passport
3. Any card with the “pass logo” (which, as Portuguese, we do not have).
I was embarrassed and humiliated… Even the lady standing on the queue, just behind us, said that what they were doing was outrageous…
hi, read my storry, i am going to the court about this now, if you want to enjoy it let me know….Gabriella Herhoff 07882639360
You just need to make it clear to management – not the employee involved, who either feels like a turd for having to enforce the rule, or is a turd for enjoying enforcing the rule – that it’s cost them the business of you, your foreign tourist friends, and your professional acquaintances, for the indefinite future (i.e. until they go out of its way to do something positive about it and let you know).
If someone is too dense to be trained to recognize valid ID, they’re too dense to be handling money or alcohol, so they can and should be trained in what ID is legitimate. As has been pointed out, EU ID’s are standardized and easy to recognize.
RT @kosmopolit: A scandal if correct: #Sainsbury can refuse EU ID cards because they only have to accept the "PASS logo" http://ow.ly/2iTiL (last comment)
what the pass logo means?
Several months since my last attempt to buy alcohol at the above mentioned Sainsburies I decided to give it another shot -this time they accepted my NZ Drivers Licence without batting an eyelash. I guess it’s different rules depending on who you end up with at the till! I still haven’t received an acknowledgment of my complaint 5 months on and to make things even more hilarious – now that I am pregnant and have a ‘baby belly’ I can buy alcohol from that same store without ever being asked for ID (not for myself obviously). Isn’t it a funny world we live in.
gosh…..so if you are over 30, with a valid driving licence from hungary and bank cards etc(everything you want) like me, you not served, but if you are pregnant than you can drink in front of the store all day…..english people are sick….we shouldnt forget that they were in an Island for a long time and having babies from sisters-brothers, thats why so many people using wheel chairand having “learning disability” what i never seen in any country in europe in my life. Gabriella Herhoff
Generally when you come to an EU country, the people who let you enter have seen I.D cards from most nationalities and therefore know a real one from a fake. Usually when entering a Country for a long period of time your passport and reason why should be stated. Due to the high rise in people trying to purchase alcohol under the age of 18 companies such as Adsa, Sainsbury’s and Tesco are taking a wider approach to the identity cards they take. Personally if I have never seen this I.D card I won’t take it on the chances it might not be genuine. Near where I live my local supermarket only allow UK drivers licence and UK passports to be used for Identification. You can purchase a Citizenship card which is also acceptable as it has a pass-logo on.
purchase???????
hey there look today i had a horrible experince i have lived here a year and i am a american citizen married to a british citizen with a UK visa to stay here and i was refused alcohol today at the co operative i was told only uk idenfications are allowed to buy alcohol after one year buying its ridiciould i felt discrimated against and i didnt felt welcomed i am starting a petition to change this they need to train their people on how to identify proper forigen ID and passports .So basicly you cant buy alcohol at co operative if u are not a citizen !
hi, read my post, did you go to the court yet as i want. Gabriella Herhoff 07882639360
???? WoW. Welcome to the UK
same happend to me when trying to buy smokes at the Coop they refused my national ID that i used to gett in to the country…..
I have just been to Sainsbury’s, and the National ID card is on the approved forms of Id list!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have seen it at the checkout!
This happened to me too! In Glasgow (October, 2010).
Almost the same happened to me…I am at the UK 5 years ago, shopping at the sainsburys 5 years ago, we spent god knows how many thousands there…..they gave me Nectar card to collect points etc….Never had any problems to shopping there….but….tonight….I said to my boyfriend on the way home to stop at the sainsburys to buy some stuff, he put up to the troley a pack of Fosters, we went to pay, there was an old fat women and asked ID…..He showed his europian driving licence,(he is 27 actualy) pink card with photo, same as english, we driving here with it 5 years ago, as we dont have to change it for a british one, we can if we want for 50 pounds, but as we dont have to, we newer did)…. the fat woman said that is not acceptable…..we asked what??? Even the police accepting it to you….she said no….than we showed the bank cards, now i shoved my licence and bank cards as well, than we showed our national insurance cards, than the nectar cards….but the fat women said it is not ok, we have to have english licence….i asked the manager than, a guy came,looks full alcoholic, full with wrinkle, and he said we have to leave the store…..i couldnt belive that…..i spent god knows how many thousend pounds in the last 5 years, and now i just have to leave the store…..in front of everybody…..than the security guy arrived, and he was full with tattoos, really, it was in Gloucester, at Barnett way, and he started to talk about company policy as the sainsburys just accepting english papers….so why did they give us nectar card than few years ago to shopping there?? And actually i know some of the sainsburies policis and for ecample you not allowed to show your tattoos….but even the security guy was full of it….I will complaining on monday, will take them to the court as i have enough now….that was so bad what they made to me in front of everybody after i was shopping there for 5 years….Thanks to read it …Gabriella
Funny, well you have to understand that the education in Brittian is lower than in some other European Countries (I do not want to offend anyone, but sadly it`s true). Also you got a lot of foreigners working in grocery stores, they do not have a clue about europe or the Stearling Pound.
The wages in shops, stores or even banks for the lower staff is very poor. Also the management in those stores are bad, people are bad trained. So you get what you pay for!
I can tell you a whole lot of stories like that. A friend of mine lost his wallet. As he was half Australien , half Spanish, he had 2 Passports. One Spanish one Australian.
)
So as he tried to with draw his rent, the cashier at his branch refused to pay him out. She wanted two forms of ID. But a Spanish and an Australian Passport was suspicious to her….
One of the Managers told him he has to come back with an other Form of ID or wait till he gets his new Bank Card. After a half hour of arguments, he then told him he could get 50 Pounds but not more.
My friend respond, “OKey so If you can`t proof my identity, but you are willing to pay me 50 Pounds from someoneeles account. And If you identify me, you are not paying me my own money back?”
After he said he wants to close his account straight away then, they paid him out his rent and 50 bucks more.
I lived in many European Countries and the UK been one of the crazies. You confronting either a 21st century or the dark ages. Same with people, I couldn`t find a middle class…
the same thing happened to me today at Glasgow’s Buchanan Galleries Sainsbury, and I had my national ID card and EU driving license on me. (I’m from Slovenia).
I just wanted to buy ingredients for a cake, part of which was a bottle of rum. After my ID was denied, I told the cashier that my friend who was with me has a UK driving license, and the guy said to me that that wont work because we both need a valid ID.
That’s just crazy!
My driving license is valid for driving a car in the UK,
but I can’t buy alcohol with it?
And my national ID card was enough to open a bank account in the UK an all..
That policy is discriminating…
Who carries a passport with him to a shop?…
And the cashier looked 2, maybe 3 years older than me tops…
GUYS IT IS JUST CRAZY!
JUST TODAY I HAVE POPPED IN TO MORRISONS FUEL STATION TO GET SOME TOBACCOS AND THEY DENIED MY EU DRIVING LICENCE (LATVIA) SAYING THAT THEY ACCEPT ONLY BRITISH DRIVING LICENCES OR BRITISH PASSPORTS!!!!!! IT IS JUST A PURE DISCRIMINATION!!!! SO ME AND MY DAD WHEN TO THE MORRISONS SUPERMARKET ACCROSS THE ROAD AND HAVE BOUGHT A PACK OF TOBBACOSS AND NOBODY ASKED HIM FOR ANY ID WHETHER IT IS BRITISH OR NOT BRITISH!
IF THE COMPANY POLICY IS NOT TO SELL ALCOHOL OR TOBACCOS TO NON BRITISH CITIZENTS (AS TO GET A UK PASSPORT U HAVE TO LIVE IN UK FOR 5 YEARS AND GET A CITIZENSHIP) THE EASIEST WAY TO PAY 50 POUNDS AND GET YOUR DRIVING LICENSE CHANGED BUT WHAT IF YOU ARE NOT A DRIVER?!!!WILL HAD TO WAIT 5 YEARS TILL YOU WILL BE ALLOWED TO BY ANY ALCOHOL OR FAGS! I SHOULD OF ASK THEM ABOUT WRITTEN POLICY ON THIS BUT I WILL DO IT NEXT TIME FOR SURE!
Just go to noveltyid.eu you can get any fake drivers license from them
I think yesterday I experienced a very clean discrimination episode that I really feel like taking out of my chest. I went to my local shop, let’s call it “X”. I am 26 years old, althought I look older I carry my Brazilian passport and my national foreing ID (a spouse visa) card issued by the British Home Office (which they assured me it is my single ID in this country). The manager of this shop refused to sell me cigarettes on the grounds “if it’s not a British passport it could be fake and we do not accept this national foreign ID card. Just apply for a PASS”.
I went back home and researched the shop’s policy online… called the Home Office. The guy in the Home Office phoneline told me that my national foreing ID has to be accepted. The shops’ policy online does not mention that they would not accept foreign passports.I went back to the shop and calmly tried to explain to the manager that refusing to accept my passport on the grounds that if it’s not British it could be fake is CLEARLY unreasonable discrimination and it could configurate a lawsuit. I tried to speak to her 4 times …she never let me finish one sentence… shouted at me saying that I was treating her like a child and that I was threaning to sue her. I insisted that I was threaning at all I was just trying to explain that unreasonable discrimination is something serious that can lead to a lawsuit, but I was not going to do that at all, but I would like to be treated fairly. Another two till people joined her… shouted at , laughed at me and demanded that I left the shop. I sound surreal, but I can guarantee that I didn’t even raised my voice. I am a Law student, and I know how much you can loose just by talking to people in a wrong way.
I called the Head office of this chain of supermarkets and the lady in the other side of the line, refused to accept my view and even added,something along this lines: “well, if you threaned to sue the shop, it is understandable that they reacted like that”. She very biased and I felt that it felt really stupid that I even bothered to call them.
They claim that it is on their policy not to accept foreign passport as a form of ID.Funilly enough this very discriminatory statement is not available on their general policy on their website.
I love this country and I am decided that this is where I am going to live for long and long years. I live here legally, pay my taxes and I just wished that this minority of people that are very biggoted could step on our shoes and think how awful what they and how distressing it can be to someone.
My son is 19 years old and today he was refuse to buy tobacco in Sainsbury shop . I know that he is still young to smoke but this is not the point .The Asian cashier can not even correctly counted his age from the valid Czech national ID card even the Czech ID is also wrote by English language .
So the first reason for refusing was that he is not 18 years old ( good Sainsbury cashier ). Unfortunately the night supervisor also refused to sell tobacco and he also did not accepted my sons National ID even the new Czech european driving licence , which is very well sophisticated and accepted as ID card in all EU countries . We believe that this is a form of racism and discrimination .
Sainsbury is just lazy trained employees about EU national ID cards or keep at the stores a simple book with examples of EU ID cards. It will be probably very expensive so they can not afforded. This is a beautiful example of ignoring EU citizens’ rights and their discrimination . I hope so , that soon or later somebody will bring them to court.
Can anybody help with some legal advice against this Sainsbury embarrassing treatment ?
I have just been to the shop where I have been shopping for the last three years and on numberous occassions I have been asked to show my ID (despite being over 25). Every time I was able to show my Polish ID or my Polish/EU driving licence which was accepted by every member of staff. Today, a new person has served me and I have been refused. I am absolutely gobsmacked and I am going to make a complaint as this is clearly racial discimination. I felt embarrased, ashamed as I was refused in front of several people. I have never been treated this way and this is absolutely unacceptable.
i had the same situation today!! ”Can i have ur ID” – ”yes”— ”oohhh we not accept that kind of IDs!! ??????????? i asked why and she said ”because we not accept ” hahahhaha . I am POlish by the way EU citizen
Ha! Just had the same experience. The ‘wonderful’ manager first refused my Greek ID on the ground on not being written in English. I pointed out that that was false. She then told me that she refused it because it was hand-written. I told her that I had asked the Greek police (which is in charge of papers such as IDs and passports), and they told me that it is a perfectly acceptable document and if somebody ask me, this is the answer I should give. Then she told me that she was going to use her ‘discretion’ and ‘allow me’ to buy the alcohol (while holding my id with both hands only inches from my nose). And then I left the shop.
lol. Lovely article. Same thing happened to me today when was shopping at Edinburgh’s Aldi store. I had few groceries and 4th pack of Tenants. Nasty looking obese check-out guy asked me if I had ID for my beer. I showed him my EU Polish id card but he wouldn’t even look at it he just went (with his uneducated accent) “sorry pal but we can’t accept it as we don’t accept foreign ID cards” obviously I told that I don’t even have a passport as I don’t need to cross the border or to open bank account in here… But this dick was really stubborn so I left… oh well… Not really good for him as phoned Aldi’s customer service line straight after and was actually told that whole situation is ridiculous and EU id card are being accepted by Aldi! ok…
Went to the store again. Had same thing in basket and went to same guy… When i was just about to be served he immediately took a break and other person filled in his place. Obviously I didn’t have any problem purchasing alcohol this time…
Well to be honest I’m not really bother about fact that I couldn’t get booze but later on I realized that this guy was clearly racist to me and once I got beer I felt really offended (as second person wouldn’t bother about ID)… I copied this guy name and got Aldis head office no. so gonna give them a wee ring on Monday.
Hello, yes same problem here, Spanish ID. It depends on how ignorant or miserable the person at the till is. I think it is ever so sad and unprofessional that the supermarkets do not train their employees on ID cards. Result? I only shop in ASDA’s and my local Co-op, where for some reason, my Spanish ID is accepted.
The problem get worse in small areas, as people tend to be, let’s say “less cosmopolitan”.
I am considering signing up for any petition like Elisabeth’s one.
At this point, I am feeling tempted to go off topic and say that, if the uncontrolled consumption of alcohol wasn’t a problem, then we wouldn’t have to put up with all this rubbish. It is only in the hands of society in England to change this trend and look for healthier Saturday night hobbies, sort their unemployment problems and benefits system out and bring their youngsters up with better values.
Anyway, remember, when they say “no ID no sale”, answer “no sale no profit”
Regards
Hi everyone,
I’ve been looking into the legality of these measures, and it seems that they breach two fundamental EU rights: freedom from discrimination, and the freedom to provide services.
I would encourage everyone to support a campaign I’ve launched on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Nationality-Discrimination-and-the-Sale-of-Alcohol-in-the-UK/308105679210515 . There, I detail these legal claims and provide an opportunity for discussion.
All the best,
Pawel
When I wanted to open a bank account the lady at the counter doubted that Germany is a european country when I showed her my ID card. She asked two colleagues who were not sure about that either and had even to ask the manager. The result was that I left the bank and chose another one where it was not a problem at all.
Same for me today in Berryden Road Sainsbury’s in Aberdeen. I had my French ID and driving licence, car keys, my local university staff card, a couple of credit and debit card. I am able to take the plane with my French ID to UK, it was enough for me to vote here but it is not enough for Sainsbury’s!!! They should really clean up their act. For me, I have just been discriminated on grounds of origin. Is that not illegal?
This happens in Co-Op in Portsmouth all the time…is there anything we can do about it?