A little OTT I fear.

A convenience store in Essex has come under fire for refusing to sell a bottle of whisky to a 92-year-old lady because she couldn't produce satisfactory ID to prove she was over 18.  The shop says that it is a condition of their licence that they must see photo ID before selling alcohol.  So what is the situation?  The Home Office does indeed require any premises selling alcohol to have an "age verification policy" but the important point here - which the shop seem to have overlooked - is that this only kicks in where the would-be purchaser "appears to be under the age of 18".  Of course no shop is obliged to sell anything to anyone, and can specify what requirements they like - most supermarkets require those apparently under 25 wishing to buy alcohol to prove their age for instance.  So the shop was within its rights not to sell her the whisky, but not for the reason they gave.  And this does raise the question of where this leaves those fancying buying a drink who do not have photo ID - not everybody has a passport or drives a car.