Purchasing beer in a convenience store

[timmyg756]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Michigan

I am the parent of an 18 year old. I walked into a convenience store with my son. I am 38. I picked out a 12 pack of beer from their cooler. At no time did my son touch it in any way or manner. At no time did we exchange money of any kind. At no time did we discuss alcohol of any form.

Once at the counter, the service lady asked for both our ID's. We handed them to her. Upon seeing my son's, she refused to sell me the beer. I politely asked why, she stated she could not sell me alcohol because my son is not of age. I told her I had never had that happen in my entire life. I asked what she would do if my son was a 10 month old baby - would she sell it to me then - she replied that would be different. I asked her how it would be different. No logic would appeal to her misunderstanding nor her refusal to sell me the beer. I left, walked across the street with my son, and bought a 12 pack of the same beer from a different establishment.

Question: If I want to purchase beer from the former store with my son present, how do I get it across to that lady that in doing so she is not breaking a law, and of course neither would I be? Do I have to call a police officer and claim my civil rights are being violated? Do I have to speak with her supervisor? Do I simply tell her to call the police herself? Do I have to print out a copy of the laws, get them notorized and have a court clerk sign them?

p.s. and for posterity, if she really thinks I am contributing alcohol to my own son... shouldn't she get into contact with some child welfare agency and tell them what she is assuming or suspecting?

 

[swalsh411]

You think your civil rights were violated? You've got to be kidding me.

There is no law that compels a store to sell anything to anybody.

Just don't go in with your son next time, or take your money somewhere else.

The best you could hope for is to complain to the store and maybe they will tell the clerk not to do that. But this is absolutely not a legal issue.

 

[Antigone*]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Michigan

I am the parent of an 18 year old. I walked into a convenience store with my son. I am 38. I picked out a 12 pack of beer from their cooler. At no time did my son touch it in any way or manner. At no time did we exchange money of any kind. At no time did we discuss alcohol of any form.

Once at the counter, the service lady asked for both our ID's. We handed them to her. Upon seeing my son's, she refused to sell me the beer. I politely asked why, she stated she could not sell me alcohol because my son is not of age. I told her I had never had that happen in my entire life. I asked what she would do if my son was a 10 month old baby - would she sell it to me then - she replied that would be different. I asked her how it would be different. No logic would appeal to her misunderstanding nor her refusal to sell me the beer. I left, walked across the street with my son, and bought a 12 pack of the same beer from a different establishment.

Question: If I want to purchase beer from the former store with my son present, how do I get it across to that lady that in doing so she is not breaking a law, and of course neither would I be? Do I have to call a police officer and claim my civil rights are being violated? Do I have to speak with her supervisor? Do I simply tell her to call the police herself? Do I have to print out a copy of the laws, get them notorized and have a court clerk sign them?

p.s. and for posterity, if she really thinks I am contributing alcohol to my own son... shouldn't she get into contact with some child welfare agency and tell them what she is assuming or suspecting?

Puhlease...don't you have bigger fish to fry. So next time shop somewhere else, or leave your son in the car.

 

[timmyg756]

I want what is right. I am an american brought up to believe in laws, justice, doing the right thing and expecting it done back. I believe that to give 1 single inch of freedom away simply to sppease ignorance - should be an affront to lovers of law and justice - knowing that law itself is so often litigatged through history and precedence.

Bigger fish to fry? Of course - lower taxes, get rid of socialism, shrink the deficit and lower spending, you name it.

Those subjects are not my story today however.

Did this fool lady violate my civil rights? Of course not. But what exactly in the course of law would waste more of an individuals time... denying me the right to purchase alcohol when I have my son with me? or clogging up the judicial system with fruitless bull**** just to prove a point?

 

[swalsh411]

denying me the right to purchase alcohol

You have no "right" to purchase alcohol. Please go look up what a right is before you make yourself look even more foolish. It's insulting to people who really do have their rights violated that you would group yourself in the same camp.

No store is under any obligation to sell any product or service to anybody. Just as a customer can refuse to patronize a merchant for any reason they wish, they can deny any sale for any reason, or no reason at all. What part of this is not perfectly clear?

 

[las365]

Did this fool lady violate my civil rights? Of course not. But what exactly in the course of law would waste more of an individuals time... denying me the right to purchase alcohol when I have my son with me? or clogging up the judicial system with fruitless bull**** just to prove a point?

You do understand that this paragraph makes no sense, yes? I guess you've been drinking that beer, and good for you!

You are not giving up even an inch of your freedom as an American by purchasing your beer from a store with a clerk who is less zealous in her interpretation of what encompasses selling alcohol to a minor.

 

[cyjeff]

I want what is right. I am an american brought up to believe in laws, justice, doing the right thing and expecting it done back. I believe that to give 1 single inch of freedom away simply to sppease ignorance - should be an affront to lovers of law and justice - knowing that law itself is so often litigatged through history and precedence.

Wow.

All that passion and never learned to capitalize "American".

I love truth, justice and the American way... and don't feel the slightest bit affronted because a c-store clerk didn't sell you beer.

Bigger fish to fry? Of course - lower taxes, get rid of socialism, shrink the deficit and lower spending, you name it.

Those subjects are not my story today however.

Tomorrow's will involve "how that guy that cut me off should be sued".

Did this fool lady violate my civil rights? Of course not.

We are in agreement.

But what exactly in the course of law would waste more of an individuals time... denying me the right to purchase alcohol when I have my son with me? or clogging up the judicial system with fruitless bull**** just to prove a point?

neither, because refusing to sell you beer isn't illegal.

Unless the reason for that refusal was because of your inclusion in a specific protected class, you don't have a case.

No law was broken.... and your hurt feelings don't mean anything.

 

[stealth2]

Or, to make it simpler.... I couldn't refuse to sell you beer because you're (pick a protected group), but I sure as heck could because you're an ignorant redneck.

 

[CdwJava]

You have no right to purchase alcohol. The store is under no legal obligation to sell it to you. In fact, many stores have a similar policy as you were confronted with - that they will not sell to an adult in the company of a minor. Why? because it might be a "shoulder tap" deal and it is easier to just say "no" than to conduct an individual inquiry with each sale. Next time, leave junior in the car or at home.

 

[cyjeff]

You have no right to purchase alcohol. The store is under no legal obligation to sell it to you. In fact, many stores have a similar policy as you were confronted with - that they will not sell to an adult in the company of a minor. Why? because it might be a "shoulder tap" deal and it is easier to just say "no" than to conduct an individual inquiry with each sale. Next time, leave junior in the car or at home.

Or, horrors, that the clerk actually heard something that made it clear for whom the beer was.

 

[Alex23]

Or, horrors, that the clerk actually heard something that made it clear for whom the beer was.

...intended.

 

[The Occultist]

I am an american brought up to believe in laws

If that were the case, then you wouldn't be pressing the issue. The fact is, if a clerk were caught selling an alcohol to a minor, for a FIRST-TIME offense, he would face a $1200 fine PLUS the guarantee of being fired from the job, and never be hired for a similar job ever again. Do you really think it's "right" to put that kind of pressure on somebody just because you chose to have your CHILD present while purchasing alcohol? The law is what it is, don't try and say you respect it while at the same time complain how it's inconveniencing you.