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Aldi shoppers have been shaking their heads in dismay after discovering the supermarket’s bizarre checkout rule.

Customers have expressed their frustration after it came to light that Aldi will refuse shoppers from buying wine and other alcohol if accompanied by a minor.

Aldi’s official policy is that the retailer does not “allow alcohol to be sold to persons accompanied by a minor, or to persons under the age of 18.” Taking the checkout rule even further, a shopper can be denied the sale of alcohol even if a minor has touched or handled the bottle they want to buy. Sounds a bit over-the-top to me!

Taking Things Too Far?

This little known checkout rule was the hot topic of conversation when a shopper posted a message on the Aldi Australia facebook page asking:

“Parents shopping with children are not allowed to purchase alcohol?”

The official response from Aldi was that the rule was in place to comply with the Responsible Service of Alcohol Act, which prevents the sale of alcohol to a person under 18. However, I’m still a bit confused about how Aldi has taken the rule to mean that parents can’t buy wine with their kids in tow. It all seems a bit far-fetched and…well, ridiculous.

Aldi Checkout Rule Is Ridiculous!

Clearly, many shoppers agree, with disgruntled comments flying fast and furious at the retailer.

“That’s ridiculous! I can walk into any bottleshop with kids in tow and they serve me without any issue.”

“Honestly parents with kids are the ones who need to drink! What a ridiculous rule!”

What About Single Parents?

Many parents said that the rule was discriminating against single parents.

“What happens if you are a single parent so you have to take your kids with you? This is a ridiculous rule that discriminates against parents. You can buy alcohol with kids there and have no intention of giving them any!”

“What??! That’s crazy! How are single parents ever meant to be able to buy alcohol then?? Or parents where one adult works away or long hours? They’re limited to buying only when the other adult is around?? Sounds like discrimination to me!”

“So where do we exactly leave the kids if they are with us and we need to buy alcohol. Some rules just don’t make sense.”

aldi-wines
Don’t even think of buying a bottle if you’re shopping with your kids

 

She Just Touched It!

One customer said the crazy Aldi checkout rule prevented her from buying a bottle of wine after her 18-month old daughter simply touched it.

“I was holding her on my hip and she leant over and touched the alcohol on the conveyer while I was loading other groceries on.”

This was enough for the checkout person to deny the mum the right to make her purchase, which very clearly was not intended for her toddler.

Stores’ Right To Refuse The Sale

Aldi has previously said in a statement that “the sale of alcohol can be refused if a minor has handled alcohol that could be potentially purchased by an adult for the minor’s consumption. This also extends to a minor accompanying an adult purchasing alcohol, even if the minor has not physically touched an alcoholic product.”

“It is the store’s responsibility to refuse any customer who presents a risk and ultimately it is at the discretion of the person serving alcohol to decline the sale should they have any doubts or concerns.

“There are severe consequences for breaching laws and policies set in place by the Australian government involving the sale of alcohol.

“As such, ALDI faces heavy penalties should we sell alcohol to any customer who supplied to a person under the age of 18.”

Were you aware of this Aldi checkout rule? Do you agree with it? Tell us in the comments below.

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  • I wonder if this is still going on. What a crazy rule.

    Reply

  • I was not aware of this but dont often shop at Aldi. Seems strange though.

    Reply

  • I refuse to buy at Aldi due to all their profits going overseas and not staying here in Aust like Woolworths, Coles, Foodland and Foodworks and IGA.

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  • Ridiculous! If you are over 18 you can buy alcohol whether there is a minor with you or not.

    Reply

  • I wasn’t aware of this rule and I’m not sure how accurate this story is as I’ve purchased alcohol several times with my kids in tow and have never been refused.

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  • I don’t know if this is accurate because we’ve certainly bought wine and beer with the kids in the trolley and they’ve not said anything.

    Reply

  • wow this seems pretty full on, I haven’t heard of it til now

    Reply

  • we had a supposed pandemic where people lost their jobs and their sanity, kids stayed home from school and parents drank more in front of their kids whilst their family was falling apart and now can’t sell in front of the kids. WOW I’m sure that will help considerably

    Reply

  • Well I’ve never heard of that, so maybe it shouldn’t be for sale in the supermarket as not always convenient to not have kids in a trolley food shopping.

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  • I’m curious. If they won’t let you buy alcohol if you have a child with you are they the same about cigarettes? Why bother to sell alcohol when most people have to take their children with them when they shop. I understand they can’t to sell to a minor which is everywhere and should be but just because the child touched the bottle? My boys always loved to empty my trolley and put the products on the checkout so they could see the things move. Glad I don’t shop at Aldi’s and here is another reason to prove I’m right

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  • Maybe we should all leave our kids chained to the bike racks while we shop at Aldi,Hoping the phedofiles can’t pick locks,Cheers Krusty.

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  • While holidaying at Central coast wife was shopping with daughter and called in to coles liquor to buy me a carton of beer to be told by a snot nosed little weed she could be buying for the daughter so no sale wife left this Green Point shop in disbelief to have to stop at another,No one gets my beer not even my daughter but if I choose to let my 16yr old drink it’s our choice, I wouldn’t,Cheers Coles the beer was cheaper at Dan Murphy’s.Krusty.

    Reply

  • I wasn’t aware of this rule.
    How inconvenient for parents who have no choice but to have their children with the whilst shopping for food.
    I’m pretty sure I’ve bought alcohol from woolies/coles with the kids in tow, they just aren’t allowed to hand over the money for it much like scratchies etc. (what kid/baby would hand over money anyway)
    but this is just ridiculous.
    As another mom said, they will change their mind when they see their sales profit drop

    Reply

  • Well, they will find less of a profit at the end of the year – I’m sure the policy will change

    Reply

  • It is insane and yes it does discriminate against Single Parents. We can walk into any bottle shop with kids , which there is never a problem.
    Aldi has definately taken this too far

    Reply

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