ID Check at Dan Murphys Rant

Thenarrator on 01/03/2015 - 09:43
Last edited 01/03/2015 - 10:28

Hi

I went in Dan Murphy's with my friend. I took a bottle of sparkling wine to the counter with my friend next to me. The sales person asked for my ID. I handed my ID and it was fine. The sales person then asked for my friends ID. My friend handed in the ID and it was fine and I paid and bought it. I bought the drink fine, thats not the problem but a thought struck me. We then had this conversation:

Me: why do you have to check my friends ID?
Sales: Yes we have to because its the store policy, we cant sell to people whos accompanied by an under 18.
Me: Er, so if my friend didnt bring her ID, I can't buy this?
Sales: Correct
Me: Then if my friend walks out of the shop, can i buy it then?
Sales: No
Me: Then when can I buy it. The next day?
Sales: Yeah, you'd have to come back the next day without your friend.

This raises several questions.
If my friend had just walked out and didn't stop at the counter with me, I would have no problem buying the sparkling?

Why have to wait 24 hrs? Why can't I just go out of Dan Murphys straight away then come back in by myself? I can just say my friend went back home?

What does 'accompanied' even mean. Just because i'm talking to the person standing next to me, they are accompanying me?

What happens to a family's day out to grab a six pack of beer? They can't buy it because their 4 yo kid is accompanying them?

This policy in my opinion is flawed and not effective in serving its purpose. If this really is their policy, then its not doing a very good job because it can be avoided very easily. Similar to guilty unless proven otherwise, they would have to prove the 'friend' is really my 'friend'. Can't they make this policy more efficient? I fail to comprehend.

Poll Options

  • 111
    This policy is flawed
  • 241
    This policy is not flawed
Food & Grocery

Related Stores

Dan Murphy's
Dan Murphy's

Comments

        • Thenarrator on 02/03/2015 - 21:01
          +1

          Never said it was dan murphys fault?

  • phoenixx on 02/03/2015 - 18:20

    Ugh, get over it. A mild potential inconvience to you and nothing else.

  • Incrediho on 02/03/2015 - 18:34
    +2

    A lot of OzB community remind me of crotchety old men. I don't even necessarily disagree with this policy, even if I doubt its effectiveness… but that incessantly patronising/condescending tone really just makes people who you view as "in the wrong" want to metaphorically (or literally) flip you the bird and entirely disregard your point.

    Sure everyone involved may be adults, but when you talk down to someone like a petulant child, you create a dynamic that encourages the other party adopt their respective role OR never participate for fear being brutalised for relatively benign conversation. E.g. "You stupid, selfish, illiterate peasant… how could you doubt the human contribution to global warming?" While the evidence is clear (and there is probably a lot of truth in that rhetoric), you're unlikely to persuade the counter-party to your perspective and/or have a meaningful discussion.

    • Thenarrator on 02/03/2015 - 20:37
      -1

      Hey, you're good. lol.. Time to reveal, I'm actually doing a social experiment on this one. Its amazing how the tone of argument can actually make people dismissive of something they would usually adhere to. That is my experiment. Human beings are just irrational creatures.

      ps. the story is still real.

      • [Deactivated] on 02/03/2015 - 21:14
        -1

        Human beings are just irrational creatures.

        You can say that again.

      • iridiumstem on 02/03/2015 - 21:17
        +1

        Please don't say you are doing an experiment without at least considering

        1. Control
        2. IV and DV

        At best, you are making an observation. Even then, it's not a good one, you are creating extraneous variables by commenting.

    • Baghern on 02/03/2015 - 21:48

      No z3289598 has acted like a petulent child making wild assumptions.

      Ignoring the fact that most people are accepting of the fact that a business has to obey the law. That the law is not perfect. The op has from the beginning ignored social convention in order to act as some almighty person of rational, without proving a response on what would be better.

      AS Cheng stated above

      Now that you're in uni (I assume by your UNSW student number) you'll find that things aren't black and white in society. Not everything is as perfect as it should be.

      • iridiumstem on 03/03/2015 - 14:04

        That's unfair, not all university students are like that.

  • [Deactivated] on 02/03/2015 - 18:43

    It's about common sense. Of course you're not going to ask a baby or small child for ID, and you're not going to disallow a 13-17 year old daughter from entering with her mum or dad. But if you see said daughter pointing to drinks in the RTD section and mum or dad picking it out then chances are you'll refuse service, because that's common sense.

    See a group of young looking people? Ask them for ID. Ideally you should ask them as they're entering and kick out the ones who can't provide, but that's not how it always works.

    If you look 25 years old or younger, you should expect to be asked for ID, and you should be able to produce. I have served many people who look to be in their early to mid twenties, but they're actually 18-19 years old.

    Unfortunately some staff members don't use common sense, but ultimately it's better be safe than sorry, because as a staff member you can be fined, as well as the company and the person buying as a minor or for a minor. And it's big bucks.

    Staff members should always be on the lookout for interactions between persons, especially when younger persons are present.

    • Thenarrator on 02/03/2015 - 21:00

      Common sense is never a good measure of ANYTHING. You would think a 30 year old coming in with an infant is perfectly ok. But why you would be surprised that people do actually force feed their infants with vodka. Beggars do this for a living. Have a read of this article: http://www.bbncommunity.com/dose-child-hands-beggar-always-s…

      Common sense may do more harm than you think. Hence this reinforces my statement of a highly inefficient policy

      • Ughhh on 02/03/2015 - 21:47

        Im sure common sense has saved a lot of people and it was probably something our ancestors relied on heavily to come to this day and age.

        Do you suggest we should live life by a book? Be spoonfed everything like a baby. Everything has to be either black or white, a written law for absolute everything because we are incapable of making right decisions based on our common sense and experience.

        Based on your common sense, experience and education, who is more likely to abuse the alcohol (by giving it to an underage)?
        A ~30yr old woman carrying a baby and wanting purchasing a bottle of champagne.
        Or a young male who is 20yo and was just exiting his car with a girl who looks 16yo?
        Note that I did say more likely.

        Common sense is the cheapest, yet effective method to reduce underage drinkers (Im not saying reducing it to 0% which would be impossible). Do you even have facts or numbers to prove that this policy is "high inefficient" ? Or are you basing your argument on what you think based on your one experience- as a customer too, if you were a staff with liquor experience, I would give you more credibility.

  • saintmagician0 on 02/03/2015 - 21:59
    +4

    Dumbest policy ever because the first time an underage person gets caught out by this, they will learn - next time, stand at the nearest street corner or sth and let your non-underage friends walk into the bottle shop on their own and buy on their own. Most underage people who want alcohol aren't exactly going to give up and wait until they turn 18 after the first failure.

    Unfortunately if the policy wasn't in place, then every underage person ever who wanted alcohol would just get a buddy to buy for them. So I dunno if this is a sign of the policy working or just a no-win scenario.

    I am curious to see if there's any stats / any research on whether this policy for bottleshops actually does much for underage drinking though - I imagine it just makes it harder, but hardly impossible (as I said, you'd learn once and then wait around the corner, or in the car). Would be interesting to see how much of an impact it has.

    • Thenarrator on 02/03/2015 - 22:10

      Yeah research is the way to go

    • Baghern on 02/03/2015 - 22:11

      That was my initial thought. Then I thought back to High School how I/we were.

      We were more shy and frankly stupid. If we didn't know someone, we would have to approach a stranger, not exactly that easy for everyone.

      We would of been busted not just once, but more likely multiple times, as we do not realise how far this law goes.

      It wouldn't stop the most determined, but like most laws it would stop a lot of infrequent drinkers.

    • macrocephalic on 03/03/2015 - 11:54

      Of they'd borrow their friend's credit card and purchase the alcohol online and have DM deliver it to the house.

  • damnscenekids on 02/03/2015 - 22:58
    +4

    I'm 22. I was in Dan Murphy's not long ago when I asked an employee (clearly much younger than myself judging by the pimples and puberty stache) whether or not a special was still running on a particular spirit. He was about to be helpful and find an answer for me, when he turned around and asked for my ID in the middle of the aisle. I have no issue with being carded, but in the aisle? I said I was only browsing (I hadn't even brought a wallet, I was in there with my mother who was on the other side of the store). He suddenly changed demeanor, said "you can't be in here without ID". I showed him my university ID (I'd just come from an exam) and he said "sorry that isn't a legal form of ID, I'm going to have to ask you to leave".

    And that's how I got kicked out of Dan Murphy's by a schoolkid. Nothing quite like being treated like a child, by a child.

    • [Deactivated] on 02/03/2015 - 23:06
      +1

      I asked an employee (clearly much younger than myself judging by the pimples and puberty stache)

      So you made similar assumptions about that person's age based on nothing but physical appearance alone, as they did to you? And you're upset?

      • damnscenekids on 03/03/2015 - 13:43
        +1

        If that's Dan Murphy's bureaucratic strategy for decreasing teen drinking, kicking people out for browsing without ID to pass time while their mother decides on wine, I think I have a right to my belief that it's ludicrous.

  • nahi11 on 02/03/2015 - 23:25
    +2

    Lol using your UNSW id as a username

  • Heizenberg on 02/03/2015 - 23:52
    +2

    something similar happened to me at first choice liquor. As a 20yr old i went in to purchase a bottle of champagne for my mothers birthday. My 17yr old brother was with me and they pulled the same thing on me. They talked at me like i was a criminal, like i was gonna crack open a bottle of champagne in the car park with my brother.

    I was annoyed and it felt discriminatory as i can't imagine them questioning a father and son or mother son or whatever. And its not like i was buying a cheap liquor that people teens use to get smashed. No i was just trying to buy a relatively expensive bottle of champagne for a gift for my mum for gods sake. and thats what i told them but they still refused. and i had to walk out the shop like id just committed a crime.

    ironically ended up leaving and going to dan murphy's with my brother to buy the gift and had no problems.

    edit- i just read above about the mother and daughter being refused. but still thats a rare case

  • [Deactivated] on 03/03/2015 - 08:27
    +1

    The sales assistant was being responsible. They probably see the same scenario everyday and are right with their judgement.
    A kid can also click on a button that says "I am over 18" on a computer. Doesn't mean it's ok.

  • [Deactivated] on 03/03/2015 - 09:32
    +1

    Just be glad you and your friend are still young enough to be asked for ID! What I wouldn't give to have to go through that "hardship"!

  • gavbro on 03/03/2015 - 10:48
    +3

    Need to add my experience.

    I'm 29 - went into a Dan Murphy's with 3 or 4 friends (all 23 - 28 years) all planning on purchasing separately.
    I knew exactly what I was buying so I grabbed my bottle of red and lined up while the rest of my friends wandered about browsing.

    I got to the front of the line and the unfriendly lady at the checkout checked my ID and then told me she wouldn't let me finish checking out until she checked the IDs of all of the people I came in with. I was like suit yourself - and stood there at the checkout staring at her for what felt like eternity waiting for my friends to finish deciding and then wander over while the rest of the people in the line got ready to punch me or her or both of us.

  • cowiie on 03/03/2015 - 12:22
    +1

    Went into Liquorland at 8pm once with my friends during a party dressed up as beauty and the geeks (we were around 19). I walked into the store with other beauties and did not get stopped for ID. As soon as the geeks walked in (dressed in uniform) they were immediately checked. Lol

  • matt_will_fix_it on 03/03/2015 - 13:58
    +2

    Its a bit silly. I've been to Dan Murphys before with my 2 year old. He didn't have to show ID before I could make my purchase. And even if he did, he was clearly under 18.

    • cheesecactus on 03/03/2015 - 19:50
      +2

      Yeah but obviously you're not buying the alcohol for your 2 yr old…… OR WERE YOU!?

  • sickllama on 03/03/2015 - 18:33
    -1

    It's a crap rule. Dan murphys customer service is awful, but I will keep shopping there because its cheap.

    • Thenarrator on 03/03/2015 - 18:34
      +1

      Yeah me too

      • sickllama on 03/03/2015 - 18:41

        My gripe is when you do a click and collect order they go to write down your drivers licence number on their order form and I simply refuse. They are not too impressed and I've been told I "have to"(excuse me, but I don't have to do anything). I've walked out everytime with my liquor and without them recording my licence number. Identity theft anyone??

        • cheesecactus on 03/03/2015 - 19:51
          +2

          Why do you even need a drivers licence? Proof of age card would be fine surely?

    • cheesecactus on 03/03/2015 - 19:54
      +2

      I've only been to a dan murphys once, but my mate dropped a 4 pack of Feral Hop Hog before he paid for it ($20 or so) and they said no worries go grab another one and started cleaning it up. We were pretty sure we'd have to pay for it, but nope.

      Quite a nice store that one. It was a bit rural though.

  • cheesecactus on 03/03/2015 - 19:49
    +1

    Reminds me of something that happened to me at a BWS.

    Me and 2 friends walked down to the bws to buy alcohol for a party. So we get there, pick out a bunch of stuff, take it to the checkout and go to pay for it. Now I drove to the party and as a result wasn't drinking (and wasnt paying for any of it either) so i left my wallet in my car along with my ID (I was 19 at the time though).

    So the lady at the checkout asked for all our IDs (one of the people with us does look pretty young, so fair call) however then she goes to check mine but gets interrupted by a coworker who needs her somewhere else in the store. The coworker then takes over and doesn't check my ID, rings us up and off we go.

    So flawed indeed. But I see the necessity for it. Probably my fault for going into a BWS without ID.

    • Thenarrator on 03/03/2015 - 21:08
      -5

      good chance to fine bws for not properly checking IDs eh.. The policy works good in theory but crap practically

  • nowlan on 03/03/2015 - 21:08
    +1

    I had this happen once at a smaller bottle shop. Didnt bring my wallet with me. My friend is buying slab of beer. The kid behind counter asks me for ID too? Didnt have any. Had to leave the store, before my friend could buy the beer. He got it in the end. What sucked is i am older than he was.

  • [Deactivated] on 03/03/2015 - 21:11
    +1

    find it weird staff asking for my I.D, @Dan Murphys only for VOSS WATER

  • Logical on 03/03/2015 - 23:10
    +1

    of course their policy is flawed. Next time the police pull you over and see that you have an unlicensed person sitting next to you they will need to impound your car for unlicensed driving. As long as the person buying the alcohol or driving the car is licenced then who gives a stuff about anybody else that may be present in your vicinity.

    • iridiumstem on 04/03/2015 - 05:12
      +1

      You cannot drive without being in the driver's seat? At least the pedals are not accessible by the unlicensed person sitting next to you, whereas you can buy alcoholic beverages for others easily. It's easy to assume that the driver was in the driver's seat, the unlicensed person has no incentives to drive/the licensed person has no incentive to not drive. Why would a licensed person let unlicensed person to drive? Buying alcoholic beverages for underaged drinkers, however, both party may have incentives to do so.

  • [Deactivated] on 03/03/2015 - 23:40
    -1

    My friend used to work there and if he didn't like a customer he would refuse to serve them claiming he believed them to be intoxicated.

    At that point the customer can't say anything:
    - they complain —> security is called/proving them to not be an acceptable person to sell alcohol to
    - they leave —> my friend doesn't have to serve them

  • McFly on 04/03/2015 - 10:09
    +1

    This is such a great law it should be extended.
    Someone buying video games eg. GTA 5 with a minor with them.
    Someone buying condoms with a minor.
    Porn.
    Medicine.
    Alcohol. Oh, yeah.

    But seriously, why doesn't this also apply to:
    Spray paint?
    CIGARETTES!?

    • Baghern on 04/03/2015 - 11:33

      When you start paying 80% tax then we can regulate everything to your satisfaction

    • [Deactivated] on 04/03/2015 - 13:51

      Don't a lot of places ask for ID when buying spray paint?

      • McFly on 04/03/2015 - 14:28

        For companions of the purchaser?

        • [Deactivated] on 05/03/2015 - 01:54

          yeah, hence places like masters keeping it inside a locked cage.

        • McFly on 05/03/2015 - 13:31

          @googlefart: So you're saying the same situation as the OP applies - an adult with a (potential) minor would be refused buying spray paint?

  • rompastompa on 04/03/2015 - 13:14

    When my missus buys, she regularly gets asked for ID. Though, when I'm with her, she never gets asked.

    Maybe she's telling porkies.. Or it could be the beard (mine, not hers). :D

  • tik tok on 04/03/2015 - 20:33

    This is common in a few states in America too. I went to an ABC Store (Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board - yeah the gov sells the grog) and the fella denied me a purchase because my partner did not have an ID.
    Both of us look well over 18.

  • JDogg1329 on 04/03/2015 - 23:50
    +1

    It's a stupid, out of sight out of mind policy. So what if the underage person you're buying alcohol for is at home? Or down the street?. More often than not this policy is just going to annoy people who are doing nothing wrong, when I was under 18 my mum and I were buying a slab of beer for my dad, and I wasn't allowed to carry the beer to the car…. Who decides this shit????.

  • omnipresent on 05/03/2015 - 01:02
    +2

    I still get ID'd by my local DM's and I'm 29. It doesn't bother me too much, but I really don't look that young and am often blatantly older than the person checking me.

    The problem with the policy is they seem to deliberately antagonise people by asking for ID. If anyone else is familiar with DM's Hyde Park in Perth, you'd know there's a decent amount of vagrants and generally dodgy people that seem to be attracted to the area. Most would never cause any trouble at a liquor store because they can't afford to not get their alcohol.

    DM's seem to have a policy of checking the ID of anyone that looks like they could be trouble, even if they're obviously older than 18 (and even 25). A lot of these guys don't have ID and are then refused entry. I witnessed two massive blow ups in two weeks from this - both times panic buttons were pressed and the cops on the way.

    A bit of commonsense wouldn't go astray in some of these situations.

    • Baghern on 05/03/2015 - 08:51

      I think the general rule most ID checkers in most industry use is, if they look under 25 check.

      I almost got caught out by 16yo claiming she was 23…

      Or in the case of bonucers who don't have time to scrutinise, they check virtually everyone.

  • wtfnodeal on 05/03/2015 - 15:56
    +2

    So if Liquor Land sends a few teenagers to stand in front of Dan Murphy entrance and pretend to be any walk in customer's friends then Dan Murphy will have no business for the whole day?

    • McFly on 05/03/2015 - 17:04
      +1

      Wonder how zealous DM would be implementing the law in that case!

  • Davo1111 on 09/03/2015 - 19:33

    I used to work at a liquor store, what the guy said is correct.

    The idea is to stop one guy going in and buying booze for all their mates.

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