Swansea dad, 62, told he can't buy booze as son helps carry it

AT 62 you might expect the days of someone refusing to serve you alcohol to be just a distant memory.

When you are also almost tee-total, it seems even more unlikely.

But this is what happened to Peter Sheldon at Morrisons in Morfa.

The reason? His 16- year-old son Jamie helped carry the alcohol to the till.

But Morrisons have said they were only ensuring they abided with the law on selling alcohol.

Mr Sheldon, a dad-of- three from Eastcliff, Southgate, said: "It would seem that either the law is stupid, or Morrisons' interpretation of it is stupid.

"The law is surely intended to protect us from lager louts, not stop law abiding citizens buying Christmas presents."

He added: "It makes you wonder what is happening to this country, you would hope that common sense would prevail."

Mr Sheldon and his wife Gill rarely drink but were buying two boxes of traditional fine ales as gifts for other family members.

"I led the way, picked up the first box and gave it to my son, then picked up the second box.

"Together we walked to the checkout where we were immediately accosted by a young official who asked for my son's ID.

"I explained my wife and I, not my son, were buying the ales as presents for others, but he said it would be against the law for him to let us buy them, as he had seen my son carrying one of the boxes."

He added: "I am not a lawyer, but am sure there is no law which prevents a 16-year-old helping his parents carry heavy shopping. It was obvious he was not attempting to purchase the alcohol himself, therefore I am sure the official was misinterpreting the law, certainly the spirit of the law."

However, Morrisons has maintained that staff in Morfa were merely adhering to the law.

A spokeswoman for the company said: "We take our responsibility with regard to selling alcohol very seriously and have procedures in place designed to ensure that we meet all legal requirements.

"We adhere to strict regulations which prohibit stores from selling age restricted products to people who may be under age, or who the stores believe could be buying for a minor or for someone who is unable to prove their age.

"These rules are in place to protect our customers and their families, as well as the general public, who, in most cases, appreciate our vigilance in the sale of age restricted products."

sion.morgan@swwmedia.co.uk