Liquorland demands proof of age from customers who look younger than 40

JUST when you thought your days of getting carded were over. Buying booze under the age of 40 just got more way complicated.

Group Of Friends Enjoying Drink At Outdoor Rooftop Bar

IF YOU’RE nudging middle age yet you keep getting carded, don’t take it as a personal compliment.

Liquorland is demanding all customers show proof of age if they look any younger than 40 — and customers are not happy.

Writing on the retailer’s Facebook page, Jared Goodwin labelled the new rule “ridiculous”, saying it would “put staff in a very uncomfortable position”.

Derek Gleeson called it an “absurd reaction to hysterical RSA laws, coupled with Coles’ clear lack of faith in the common sense of staff. In other words, cynical, a***-covering lip service.”

Some customers have taken issue with Liquorland’s new rules.

Liquorland’s social media moderator said the retailer was trialling the policy in NSW stores, ramping up efforts to comply with responsible service of alcohol laws.

The maximum penalty for selling liquor to a minor on a licensed premises in the state is $11,000, or 12 months’ jail, or both.

“We are conducting a trial in increasing our efforts to ensure that we safeguard our team members in the sale of alcohol to minors and also in stepping up our responsibility to the community,” the company said.

“It is often difficult to assess a person’s age and our team members must make this assessment accurately many times, every day ... We thank you for your support.”

Bottle shops normally ask for proof of age when a customer looks under the age of 25, but increasing this was “an additional safeguard to ensure we comply with our responsibilities as a liquor retailer”.

“It can be difficult to accurately identify customers who are 25 and under, so by raising the checking age to 40, we eliminate any doubt.”

Ahhh, the joys of youth.

With the growing trend for Botox and other age-defying procedures, one has to wonder what lengths liquor retailers will have to go to in the future.

We know there are 24-years-olds who look as young as 17, so it stands to reason that the army of cosmetically enhanced 40-year-olds would be adding an extra level of confusion.

Those poor, harried bottle shop attendants have a lot to contend with.

Facebook user Chris Hammond had this in mind when he suggested staff were probably “sick of old people asking them ‘why don’t’ you ask me for my ID?’”.

Others defended the retailer and pointed out Mr Goodwin “could have used the energy it took to write this post to get your ID out and comply.”

Liquorland said while the new rules “may take some time to get used to”, they were for the good of all.

A spokesman for Coles told news.com.au the company would consider rolling out the new policy across its Australian liquor outlets if the NSW trial was a success.

“Coles Liquor takes the responsible service of alcohol very seriously,” the spokesman said.

“To help our teams serve our customers responsibly, we are trialling an increased age limit for identification checks in NSW, under which our team will ask customers who they believe to be under the age of 40 for valid proof of age identification. Our aim is to strengthen our efforts to protect our community and our team members.”