Dad, 50, Asked For ID To Prove He's Old Enough To Buy Booze At Morrisons

Dad, 50, Asked For ID To Prove He's Old Enough To Buy Booze At Morrisons
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As the father of three grown-up children, Charles Brown might have been flattered to be asked to prove he was old enough to buy alcohol from a Morrisons supermarket.

And at first, Charles thought it was a joke. But it started to wear thin when an assistant asked to see some ID before selling him a bottle of whisky – despite the fact that the dad is 50 years old.

Granted, he might not quite look like he's ready for a pipe and slippers, but how in the name of common sense did anyone think he wasn't legally entitled to buy booze, even if the store's policy was not to sell to anyone under the age of 25?

Charles, whose oldest child is 30, eventually managed to walk out of the store in Elland, Huddersfield, with his bottle of Grant's.

He told his local paper: "I'm 50 and I can take it as a compliment but it has gone too far. I know I don't look 50 but I don't look 24.

"I've got a daughter at 30, a son at 28 and my youngest at 17.

"Fair enough I'm slim built, I'm tallish and the way I dress is quite casual, a younger person's trend sort of thing, but that shouldn't put me at the age of 24."

Charles said people normally guess he is 15 years younger than his real age.

He said: "My dad didn't look his age and my mum died relatively young and out of my six siblings I am the oldest, but I've been told I look the youngest.

"Once I went out and somebody asked my daughter if I was her boyfriend and she said, 'Don't be silly - it's my dad'.

"I've been on holiday with my wife and other people have thought I was my wife's toyboy."

A Morrison's spokesman said: "We are required by law to police the sale of alcohol and take our responsibility very seriously.

"As part of this, we have adopted Challenge 25, a policy of asking for identification from anyone who doesn't look over the age of 25.

"We hope Mr Brown took the request as a compliment as he must look very young for his age."

While it is legal in the UK for anyone over 18 to purchase alcohol many retailers follow the Challenge 25 protocol. Challenge 25 encourages anyone who is over 18 but looks under 25 to carry acceptable ID when they want to buy alcohol.