Are you sure I look a Lidl too young?

A MAJOR

supermarket in Ballymoney this week said their tougher policy on checking the ages of people buying alcohol carryouts is a sign they are taking their responsibilities seriously.

It has been claimed by a number of local people that people “well in advance of the legal age to buy alcohol” - 18 - were finding they were being asked to produce ID to verify their age before they could leave with carry-outs of beer and spirits from Lidl in Meetinghouse Street.

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And a source told the Times: “One person was very surprised to be asked for such information although at the same time flattered if you know what I mean. This person was no teenager and they wondered why they were being asked to prove their age.”

A Lidl spokesperson told the Times: “As a responsible retailer, Lidl Northern Ireland, takes the sale of alcohol very seriously. The company policy, Challenge 21, has been implemented across the organisation in line with legal requirements with the objective that staff members are confident that purchasers are over 18 when buying alcohol.”

The Challenge 21 approach and another version - Challenge 25 - is increasingly be adopted by a number of supermarkets.

It comes at a time when responsible retailing of alcohol is very much on the political agenda; Trading Standards departments across the country test purchase the retailing of alcohol to underaged customers.

As a result, retailers suffer licence reviews and suspension, while pub companies risk fines of up to 10,000 and potential closure.

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