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Store refused booze sale to 'underage' mum - aged 44
A SHOCKED mum aged 44 was refused booze from a Sheffield supermarket - after being told she may be underage.
Stunned Louise Gregory - who was wearing sunglasses - protested to the assistant at Tesco on Infirmary Road after she was refused a small bottle of vodka at a self-service till.
Mrs Gregory, who was with her daughter Sophie and her friend Nicole, both 14, took her sunglasses off and told the assistant her age - who then claimed she suspected she would pass the booze on to the children.
She demanded to see a manager and says a young man emerged who backed up the till assistant, herself in her mid-40s.
Mrs Gregory, of Burns Road, Crookesmoor, left without the booze, vowing never to shop at Tesco again.
She said: "It was embarrassing. The store was absolutely packed and people were laughing and shaking their heads.
"It's unreal, I don't understand their policy on underage drinking. I'm a responsible adult and I wouldn't dream of giving vodka to my children.
"I think the worker made a mistake and then tried to cover it up with a ridiculous accusation when she should have just apologised.
"No-one showed an ounce of common sense. I've used that store since before it was Tesco and I go in several times a week, but after this I'm never going there again.
"I've been made to feel like a criminal."
A Tesco spokeswoman said: "We take our responsibility towards the sale of alcohol very seriously. We operate a strict Think 25 policy, meaning if someone looks under 25 and does not have identification to prove they are over 18, they will not be served alcohol in our stores.
"Additionally, if our staff suspect alcohol is being purchased for an underage person, the sale will also be refused."
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Thursday 09 February 2012
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