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Our state enacted a new law on July 1st that states anyone regardless of age must show picture ID in order to purchase alcohol. This led to the following scene last week on 3rd shift. We only have 2 cashiers working any night on 3rd. We have 8 uscan lanes and a single "regular" checkout lane.
I was working with "A" and she was on her break. One of our regulars is a senior citizen who always comes in wearing a miniskirt, sandals and bleached blonde hair. I was standing at Uscan when she stepped around the corner and called "Miss...MISS". I stepped over to see what she wanted.
SC:"I think there is something wrong with the restroom. The door is locked and I have knocked and knocked and no one comes out...and I REALLY have to go!!"
I step around to our family restroom since sometimes people will hit the lock button walking out and we have to unlock it for the next customer. As I am about to knock on the door a man and his little boy come rushing out. The father yelled, "I told you twice that we were using the restroom. We were trying to hurry for you..Jesus Christ!" (Turns out the little boy was ill and throwing up so they couldn't really hurry). SC didn't miss a beat, just rushed in to use the restroom. She had been in the store a long time if the amount of stuff in her cart was any indication.
Once she emerged from the bathroom she made her way to "A"'s checkout lane. All her items were scanned and then she put a bottle of wine on the belt.."A" scanned it and the prompt came up to enter the date of birth. "A" asked for the woman's ID.
SC "I don't have my ID...it is all the way our in my caaar and I don't feel like walking all the way out there."
A:"Ma'am, state law says I have to see ID in order to sell alcohol. I need your ID"
SC:"That is rediculous...I am in my 80s..I am obviously over 21. Can't you just override it?"
A;"No ma'am, I could lose my job if I don't get your ID. Do you have ANYTHING with your date of birth on it"
SC "I don't care about your job, I really neeeed that bottle of wine."
about that time I walk by and she says, "How about HER, can she override it?"
A: "No ma'am, it is state law and no one can sell you alcohol without an ID"
SC:"Well, I am going to come behind there and force you to give me that wine."
at this point "A" was starting to get a little frightened and picked up the phone and asked the manager to come up and deal with the customer.
SC:"Yes...get your manager up here..HE will make you sell me the wine"
Manager is awesome...he comes up and tells the customer that it is state law that we have to see picture ID for any customer wanting to buy alcohol, no exceptions. It is a misdemenor and we could face fines and the loss of our liquor license and the cashier would be fired, and he was not willing to bend the rules for anyone. Customer was outraged, but she paid for the rest of her stuff and left.
Mind you we could have refused to sell her alcohol on the basis of the fact that she was obviously intoxicated. She smelled of alcohol, she was unsteady on her feet and had to lean on the cart and shuffle on her tiptoes to get anywhere and her speech was off.
I told "A" if anyone argued again just to tell them that the register had been changed where we didn't have the option to override. It would be a good thing since we card for everything anymore..alcohol, tobacco, DVDs, CDs, video games, fireworks and certain medications. Most customers are pretty understanding..we do have huge signs on both entrances stating the law, so if you want to purchase alcohol you can go right back and get your ID before you grab a cart and start shopping.
I was working with "A" and she was on her break. One of our regulars is a senior citizen who always comes in wearing a miniskirt, sandals and bleached blonde hair. I was standing at Uscan when she stepped around the corner and called "Miss...MISS". I stepped over to see what she wanted.
SC:"I think there is something wrong with the restroom. The door is locked and I have knocked and knocked and no one comes out...and I REALLY have to go!!"
I step around to our family restroom since sometimes people will hit the lock button walking out and we have to unlock it for the next customer. As I am about to knock on the door a man and his little boy come rushing out. The father yelled, "I told you twice that we were using the restroom. We were trying to hurry for you..Jesus Christ!" (Turns out the little boy was ill and throwing up so they couldn't really hurry). SC didn't miss a beat, just rushed in to use the restroom. She had been in the store a long time if the amount of stuff in her cart was any indication.
Once she emerged from the bathroom she made her way to "A"'s checkout lane. All her items were scanned and then she put a bottle of wine on the belt.."A" scanned it and the prompt came up to enter the date of birth. "A" asked for the woman's ID.
SC "I don't have my ID...it is all the way our in my caaar and I don't feel like walking all the way out there."
A:"Ma'am, state law says I have to see ID in order to sell alcohol. I need your ID"
SC:"That is rediculous...I am in my 80s..I am obviously over 21. Can't you just override it?"
A;"No ma'am, I could lose my job if I don't get your ID. Do you have ANYTHING with your date of birth on it"
SC "I don't care about your job, I really neeeed that bottle of wine."
about that time I walk by and she says, "How about HER, can she override it?"
A: "No ma'am, it is state law and no one can sell you alcohol without an ID"
SC:"Well, I am going to come behind there and force you to give me that wine."
at this point "A" was starting to get a little frightened and picked up the phone and asked the manager to come up and deal with the customer.
SC:"Yes...get your manager up here..HE will make you sell me the wine"
Manager is awesome...he comes up and tells the customer that it is state law that we have to see picture ID for any customer wanting to buy alcohol, no exceptions. It is a misdemenor and we could face fines and the loss of our liquor license and the cashier would be fired, and he was not willing to bend the rules for anyone. Customer was outraged, but she paid for the rest of her stuff and left.
Mind you we could have refused to sell her alcohol on the basis of the fact that she was obviously intoxicated. She smelled of alcohol, she was unsteady on her feet and had to lean on the cart and shuffle on her tiptoes to get anywhere and her speech was off.
I told "A" if anyone argued again just to tell them that the register had been changed where we didn't have the option to override. It would be a good thing since we card for everything anymore..alcohol, tobacco, DVDs, CDs, video games, fireworks and certain medications. Most customers are pretty understanding..we do have huge signs on both entrances stating the law, so if you want to purchase alcohol you can go right back and get your ID before you grab a cart and start shopping.
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