Shops would not sell to RAF teen
A MILITARY family have slammed shops in Wakefield for refusing to accept their son's RAF identity card as proof he was old enough to buy alcohol.
Bradley Gulliver, 18, was home on leave last weekend to attend his grandmother’s funeral when he tried to buy a few cans of Guinness.
On Saturday both Big In Booze, on Horbury Road, and Sainsbury’s, on Ings Road, turned the former Crofton High School pupil away.
He said: “The staff told me that they couldn’t accept my RAF military ID card. They told me they were given a list of identity cards they could accept as proof of age and this wasn’t one. I can’t understand it.”
Bradley has since gone back to his base, RAF Cosford in Shropshire. He is due to be deployed in September and could be sent to Afghanistan.
His parents, Michelle and Dave Oliver, of Gloucester Grove, Lupset, both served in the army for 24 years.
Mrs Oliver said: “My son could lose his life fighting for his country but he can’t buy a few cans of beer to drink with his friends – I think it’s disgusting.
“The staff at Sainsbury’s said they couldn’t accept it because it didn’t have his address on, but they move around so much it would be pointless to have it on there.
“And after all that they wouldn’t let me pay as they thought I was supplying an underage person.”
Under rules set out by the government most supermarkets and shops only accept passports, driving licenses and cards with a PASS logo.
A spokesman for Sainsbury’s said: “As a responsible retailer we have taken extensive advice from organisations such as the Portman Group and the Drink Aware Trust to implement a system designed to prevent children buying alcohol.
“Along with most retailers we operate a ‘Think 25’ policy whereby colleagues are trained to ask for ID from anyone they think looks younger than 25.”
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Weather for Wakefield
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Light snow
Temperature: 0 C to 2 C
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Light snow
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