She's a minor

[seigus]

My wife, daughter and I are at the grocery store. In the beer section is a fellow giving samples of a seasonal beer. He offers it to me (yes, thank you!), my wife (no, but thanks) and then my daughter.

Me: (slightly amused, thinking he's terrible at age recognition) "She's 15."
Beer guy: "You're her parents. She can have it if you say so."
Me: (no longer amused) "No."

Maybe it's me, but shouldn't he have at least asked us before offering it directly to a minor?

[BrenDAnn]

I'd lose my job if I were that guy. I really would. See, I don't think these people called the police would like it very well if I knowingly gave alcohol to a fifteen-year-old. Said fifteen-year-old's parents saying yes wouldn't make a bit of difference, as far as I know, either. You were right to be upset. I'd have even perhaps spoken to store management about it. They deserve to know they have a potential legal liability on their hands!

[Ashaela]

When I took alcohol sellers' training it was to be a grocery cashier, but it was the same training video as the bartenders would watch. In the video they said that a parent would have to prove that they were actually the child's parent before a seller would be allowed to provide alcohol - basically, they'd have to carry around their child's birth certificate to show. Which seemed like a whole lot of bother to me, and I couldn't figure out what parent would want their underage offspring to drink badly enough to cart around a birth certificate and risk losing it.

Which is to say - this guy is entirely too cavalier about the idea of providing beer samples to a minor, and if it comes to the attention of store management, I'd be surprised if he didn't lose his job just so the store itself doesn't get hit with potential fines and repercussions.

[eltf177]

...if it comes to the attention of store management, I'd be surprised if he didn't lose his job just so the store itself doesn't get hit with potential fines and repercussions.

I could easily see a complete shutdown in the store's future if this clown isn't reigned in and FAST...

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

I could easily see a complete shutdown in the store's future if this clown isn't reigned in and FAST...

Maybe not that, but the store's license to sell alcohol could be pulled. Which would mean a big empty space where the liquor used to be, and a big loss in sales.

[notalwaysright]

Maybe it's me, but shouldn't he have at least asked us before offering it directly to a minor?

The stores that I've seen offer samples of alcoholic beverages usually have the table set partly inside that department, and they seem not to offer anything unless a person goes up to the table. That seems wise... I mean, it's legal in this state for parents to give their minor child a drink (my parents let me have a sip of whatever they had, but I almost always hated it, lol), but you'd have to be REALLY out of it to assume that all parents are cool with this. Even my parents would have said no in that situation. I bet you that guy was gone before the end of the day.

[bainsidhe]

Here the grocery store will card you before offering a sample of beer. Which I've never seen done in wineries or liquor stores, of course, but then I also don't see these establishments pushing their wares onto minors. You know, wanting to avoid fines and wishing to keep their liquor license and all.

[bloo]

In my little village, the city ordinances allow for parents to give their minor children alcohol on their own property. Only their own children, no one else's, and only on their own property, no where else. That dude is a walking lawsuit. Devoid of common sense.

[Sparklyturtle]

At our local grocery store, the lady passing out samples of alcoholic root beer carded everyone who wasn't an obvious senior citizen before handing over a sample.

[protege]

Maybe not that, but the store's license to sell alcohol could be pulled. Which would mean a big empty space where the liquor used to be, and a big loss in sales.

Here, in PA, if someone got caught selling alcohol to minors...they'd lose their liquor license, as well deal with some serious fines. Keep in mind that most alcohol sales are either at state-owned stores, beer distributors, and recently, some grocery stores. While the grocery stores could possibly handle the slight loss in sales, a beer distributor would find themselves out of business for a bit.

As for the "state stores," at least locally, they're pretty good about checking ID. They wouldn't tolerate some idiot trying to skirt the rules.

[raudf]

*blinks* My 14 year old old would have told him flat out, "Minor, so NO," and then looked for a manager on his own. For the record, he's tried a sip of booze ONCE and it's "Not until horses fly without gun powder or jet fuel."