Mother’s anger at wine sale ban
20/1/12- Avril Milton-Tomkins with daughter Poppy outside the Co-Op, Bexhill. Photo by Steve Hunnisett
FURIOUS Bexhill mum Avril Milton-Tomkins has challenged a Co-Op policy on the sale of alcohol which she claims led to her and her 15-year-old daughter Poppy being highly embarrassed during a weekend shopping trip.
The pair went into The Co-Operative Food store in Devonshire Road, Bexhill, on a Saturday afternoon, and among Mrs Milton-Tomkins’ selections was some wine.
But she said: “When we got to the check-out, the cashier refused to sell me the wine unless we produced identification to confirm that Poppy was my daughter.
“I asked to see the cashier’s manager, who refused to give me his full name and who also wouldn’t sell me the wine. This was in full view of other customers and Poppy was devastated by the experience.
“Are they saying that I can’t go out shopping with my own daughter now? We’ve lived in Bexhill for three years and I’ve never had a problem like this with any other supermarkets. Frankly, I think it’s gone too far and I shall be taking my complaint against the Co-Op as far as I can.”
Adding insult to injury, a letter sent to Mrs Milton-Tomkins explaining the company’s stance and apologising for the inconvenience originally alluded to the incident having occurred at its store in Chatham - on the north Kent coast.
A spokesman for The Co-operative Food said: “All our stores operate a Challenge 25 policy, where potential purchasers of age-restricted products who appear to be under the age of 25 years are asked to provide proof that they are 18 or over.
“ If none can be provided then the sale must be refused. This policy also applies to anyone who is with the purchaser at the time, if there is any possibility that the alcohol could be for consumption by a minor.
“On this occasion the customer’s daughter was unable to provide proof of being aged 18 or over, and so the sale was refused. Our customer services team has been in touch with Mrs Milton-Tomkins to explain our position.”
PICTURED: Avril Milton-Tomkins with daughter Poppy
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Weather for Bexhill-on-Sea
Monday 28 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 13 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 21 C
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Wind direction: South west
