Whisky sale ban shocks soldier (From Oxford Mail)

Whisky sale ban shocks soldier

6:20pm Wednesday 17th March 2010 in

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A SOLDIER who had just arrived home from a tour of duty in Afghanistan was not allowed to buy a bottle of whisky in a supermarket because his step-daughter was with him.

Sergeant Keith Cotton, who is on leave before returning to his Royal Logistic Corps unit’s base in Northern Ireland, was shocked when a cashier at Carterton’s Co-operative supermarket refused to sell him the spirit while he was shopping with 15-year-old Krystal Mitchell.

The Co-op last night apologised to Sgt Cotton for any embarrassment.

The cashier told him she could not let him buy a bottle of Whyte & Mackay Scotch whisky because his daughter did not have any identification with her.

Sgt Cotton, of Upavon Way, Carterton, said: “I was shocked. I have never complained about anything in my life before. I’m not a person who gripes.

“It was common sense, as it was pretty obvious it was for me. Does this mean anyone else buying alcohol while with their children isn’t allowed to?”

The father-of-four added: “I was in a good, chirpy mood and it really ruined my evening.

“I really thought it was a wind-up and that somebody would jump out... like a Jeremy Beadle moment.”

The incident happened last Wednesday, as Sgt Cotton was shopping in the town centre with Krystal.

The 40-year-old said: “I went to the self-service counter and proceeded to put my goods through the scanner. My daughter picked up the first two items and scanned them herself, a carton of milk and a packet of sweets, and then I took over.

“As I did so, the cashier called to me that she wanted to see ID for my daughter. I laughed at her, thinking she was messing around, so I continued to scan the goods. Just as I was about to pay, the woman asked to see age verification for my daughter again and I still thought she was winding me up.

“It soon became apparent she was serious.”

Lorna Bishop, a spokesman for the Botley-based Midcounties Co-operative, said: “As a responsible community retailer, we have strict procedures on alcohol sales.

“If we suspect a customer is under 25 years old we will ask for proof of age identification and if we have suspicion that the purchase is being made for someone else, we’re legally bound to refuse the sale.

“We apologise if this has caused any embarrassment but we’re legally required to refuse such a sale.”

Sgt Cotton was not in uniform when he went in the shop, but military personnel are allowed to buy alcohol from shops while wearing Army kit.

However, they are not permitted to buy alcohol from pubs or bars, or drink while in uniform.

Sgt Cotton added: “I understand that there’s a problem with people buying alcohol by proxy but I’m a serving senior non-commissioned officer in the Army.

“After recently returning from Afghanistan I can’t believe the jobsworthiness of this woman, as it was plain to see I was doing a normal shop, like all the other thousands of people every day do with their children present.

“I even offered to take Krystal home and come back later on my own, but they said I couldn’t do that either.”

witney@oxfordmail.co.uk