Morrisons - again! (Richmond Yorkshire Liberal Democrats)

Richmond Yorkshire Liberal Democrats <r2short@tiscali.co.uk>

Morrisons - again!

November 27, 2008 7:24 PM
Originally published by Diana Wallis MEP

Diana with Leeds student Barbora and her ID card outside Morrisons in Headingly Road EU students trying to buy alcohol in Morrison's stores in Leeds are being turned away even when they show ID from their home countries (the same ID that allows them to enter the UK in the first place).

Students from other EU countries studying in Leeds have had problems buying alcohol in their local Morrisons' stores. Morrisons has introduced a new policy whereby if a customer looks under the age of 25 they will ask for proof of age in an effort to combat under-age drinking. However, when challenged about their age, although these EU students have provided the checkout operator as well as the store managers with a valid National ID Card (and in some cases a valid Driving Licence - both photographic), they are still being turned away.

Leeds Liberal Democrat Euro MP Diana Wallis has taken up the case, saying:

"The interesting thing is that these students only need the same ID card to allow them to enter the UK in the first place! There has been no need for students from EU countries in Eastern Europe to carry a passport from 1st May 2004 when these countries joined the EU. So if it's good enough for the UK Border Police it must surely be ok to allow them to buy a bottle of wine in the local supermarket!"

While supportive of Morrisons' tougher policy on selling alcohol to underage customers, Ms. Wallis feels that this is clearly a case of discrimination on the grounds of nationality. She asked for clarification of Morrisons' 'Task 25' policy' and, in particular, on what grounds the company feels justified in insisting on the production of UK-only issued identity documents as proof of age.

Ms. Wallis said:

"Interestingly we have several identical incidents. One involved an Irish student who was refused alcohol in the same way, despite showing his Irish driving licence. He complained and received an apology and a voucher for £10. A Slovakian student complained and didn't even receive a letter of apology!"

Ms. Wallis wrote to Morrisons on a complainants' behalf along the lines that despite the production of both a National Identity Card - a valid travel document for EU nationals wishing to come to the UK and his EU format driving licence - the student was told that neither were valid as they were not issued in the UK. Although Morrisons replied that there would be a change of policy, the perceived discrimination goes on and a further letter remains unanswered.

Today Ms Wallis personally handed a letter to the Manager of Morrisons in Headingley Road accompanied by one of the students most recently affected by the decision. (In the most recent incident two students studying in Leeds, one a Slovak and the other a Pole, provided the checkout operator as well as the store's Assistant Manager with valid ID cards. Following an exchange regarding the store's policy, the Assistant Manager even refused to take a look at the letter from Diana regarding the policy change that had been earlier in the year).

(Pic shows Diana with Leeds student Barbora and her ID card outside Morrisons in Headingley Road)