Shop Refused to serve British servicemen

[Butts]

With stories like this, I can't understand what the shop worker would get by refusing a sale to someone in uniform. Even if the shop worker was anti British army (didn't the Indian army side with Britian during the wars?), surely he'd know the backlash he would get by refusing the sale would not be worth it?

Is this for real ?


India was part of The British Empire until 1947.

 

[ainsworth74]

With stories like this, I can't understand what the shop worker would get by refusing a sale to someone in uniform. Even if the shop worker was anti British army (didn't the Indian army side with Britian during the wars?), surely he'd know the backlash he would get by refusing the sale would not be worth it?

They didn't have much choice in the matter! The British Indian Army (know as the Indian Army at the time) was under the control of London (though its headquarters were obviously in India) and would do it's bidding. The Indian Army often found itself used to police the Empire as a bolster to the British Army (which was considerably smaller). This did not change until Indian Independence in 1947.

 

[ExRes]

A thought, even though I realise that I will now be attacked as some maniac racist

An Asian enters a shop run by a white Englishman who refuses to serve them, would that be 'worthy of a mention' or classified as a 'genuine error'?, I rather think it would be splashed all over the national news in seconds and the riot police would be on the streets

This 'story' has as much right as any racist event to be publicised

 

[Gemz91]

Is this for real ?


India was part of The British Empire until 1947.

It was more a rhetorical then a genuine question!

 

[Y961 XBU]

I spent some time there and what i saw was laughable, they first issued notices saying they was sorry ect but the notice claimed that the Legal Age for selling such products was 16 when as we all know its 18, I do question how well informed that are about the UK Law to make such a daft a mistake, Also i noticed very few people walked into the shop.

 

[Butts]

It was more a rhetorical then a genuine question!

Turns out the whole thing is about selling a pack of snouts - crazy or what ?

(that is definitely rhetorical)

 

[Minilad]

Turns out the whole thing is about selling a pack of snouts - crazy or what ?

(that is definitely rhetorical)

Just look at the trouble you slaves to nicotine cause

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Turns out the whole thing is about selling a pack of snouts - crazy or what ?

(that is definitely rhetorical)

Pack of snouts....sounds like a considerable number of police informers...

 

[Butts]

Both of you......Butt Out

 

[AM9]

A thought, even though I realise that I will now be attacked as some maniac racist

An Asian enters a shop run by a white Englishman who refuses to serve them, would that be 'worthy of a mention' or classified as a 'genuine error'?, I rather think it would be splashed all over the national news in seconds and the riot police would be on the streets

This 'story' has as much right as any racist event to be publicised

It depends on what reason is given for his refusal and whether he has or does serve other Asians.

Similarly, I don't think that refusing to serve somebody on the grounds of their job or work uniform is illegal. There are planty of non-white soldiers in the British Army, some of them Asian.

 

[talltim]

perhaps they were under 18?

 

[starrymarkb]

perhaps they were under 18?

That's a possibility - The UK is one of the few countries that will recruit soldiers who are under 18 (though I understand they won't be send to a combat zone until they are over 18)

I thought there were rules about serving police while on duty.

 

[muz379]

I spent some time there and what i saw was laughable, they first issued notices saying they was sorry ect but the notice claimed that the Legal Age for selling such products was 16 when as we all know its 18, I do question how well informed that are about the UK Law to make such a daft a mistake, Also i noticed very few people walked into the shop.

The age for selling cigarettes was at one point 16 wasnt it . Cant remember when it changed but I know it has been changed for a number of years now .

A thought, even though I realise that I will now be attacked as some maniac racist

An Asian enters a shop run by a white Englishman who refuses to serve them, would that be 'worthy of a mention' or classified as a 'genuine error'?, I rather think it would be splashed all over the national news in seconds and the riot police would be on the streets

This 'story' has as much right as any racist event to be publicised

If an Asian was refused service just because he was Asian that should and more than likely would be exposed as Racism usually is .

If however the Asian man was refused service because of a mistake as to the law relating to selling age restricted products then splashing that story all over the show is going to do more harm than good . Again if this has been a mistake then the shopkeepers should apologize to the affected parties and everybody should just go on their way .

 

[DelayRepay]

I think the law was changed but it used to be an offence to sell alcohol to a police officer in uniform. This occasionally led to confusion when people like fire fighters and paramedics were refused alcohol sales on their way home from work by confused shop workers. The actual wording was alcohol or refreshments which meant that when the Co-op refused to sell a sausage roll to a policeman, nobody said the shop had done anything wrong.

I suspect that confusion about the same law has caused this unfortunate situation.

 

[IanD]

I spent some time there and what i saw was laughable, they first issued notices saying they was sorry ect but the notice claimed that the Legal Age for selling such products was 16 when as we all know its 18, I do question how well informed that are about the UK Law to make such a daft a mistake, Also i noticed very few people walked into the shop.

Like alcohol, doesn't this apply to the buyer and the seller? Maybe the assistant was under 18 (or even 16) and hence refused the sale.

 

[Greenback]

The age for selling cigarettes was at one point 16 wasnt it . Cant remember when it changed but I know it has been changed for a number of years now .

I think it was 2007, so a few years ago but still relatively recently to someone of my age!

If an Asian was refused service just because he was Asian that should and more than likely would be exposed as Racism usually is .

If however the Asian man was refused service because of a mistake as to the law relating to selling age restricted products then splashing that story all over the show is going to do more harm than good . Again if this has been a mistake then the shopkeepers should apologize to the affected parties and everybody should just go on their way .

Agreed.

I think the law was changed but it used to be an offence to sell alcohol to a police officer in uniform. This occasionally led to confusion when people like fire fighters and paramedics were refused alcohol sales on their way home from work by confused shop workers. The actual wording was alcohol or refreshments which meant that when the Co-op refused to sell a sausage roll to a policeman, nobody said the shop had done anything wrong.

I suspect that confusion about the same law has caused this unfortunate situation.

You may be right. The situation is definitely unfortunate, but this is the real world, where mistakes can and do happen, and not always deliberate due to hatred, prejudice or discrimination.

 

[Qwerty133]

Like alcohol, doesn't this apply to the buyer and the seller? Maybe the assistant was under 18 (or even 16) and hence refused the sale.

Under 18s can sell alcohol as long as they are being 'supervised' by an over 18.

 

[IanD]

Under 18s can sell alcohol as long as they are being 'supervised' by an over 18.

So maybe this guy was on his own in the shop and under 18. Who knows?

 

[starrymarkb]

I think the law was changed but it used to be an offence to sell alcohol to a police officer in uniform. This occasionally led to confusion when people like fire fighters and paramedics were refused alcohol sales on their way home from work by confused shop workers. The actual wording was alcohol or refreshments which meant that when the Co-op refused to sell a sausage roll to a policeman, nobody said the shop had done anything wrong.

I suspect that confusion about the same law has caused this unfortunate situation.

That's what I was thinking of.

 

[Y961 XBU]

So maybe this guy was on his own in the shop and under 18. Who knows?

Just to clear things up there are no under 18s Employed by Alpha News, all Employees bar 1 are related, There is always at least 2 people on the til, normally an Old Fella and a lady

 

[IanD]

Just to clear things up there are no under 18s Employed by Alpha News, all Employees bar 1 are related, There is always at least 2 people on the til, normally an Old Fella and a lady

In that case, let's keep the pickets going. I'll be along with my pitchfork and burning torch shortly.

 

[PeterC]

Servicemen in uniform have had problems in the past too.

 

[Oswyntail]

IIRC, the Licensing Act of 2003 removed the offence of selling alcohol to policemen on duty (except in specified circumstances). So there is a possible area of running the shop that might have led to a genuine mistake, especially if, as described earlier, it was the more elderly staff involved. No story - move along.
What does make me angry, however, is that the massed knuckle-draggers are all doing as much as they can to force a "racist" element into the story. I do not know what "race" (other than human) the squaddies were. Nor do i know what religion the shopkeepers followed, if any.

 

[St Rollox]

Servicemen in uniform have had problems in the past too.

A tear in my eye remembering that poem hanging on my grandfathers living room wall about 50 years back.

 

[ExRes]

IIRC, the Licensing Act of 2003 removed the offence of selling alcohol to policemen on duty (except in specified circumstances). So there is a possible area of running the shop that might have led to a genuine mistake, especially if, as described earlier, it was the more elderly staff involved. No story - move along.
What does make me angry, however, is that the massed knuckle-draggers are all doing as much as they can to force a "racist" element into the story. I do not know what "race" (other than human) the squaddies were. Nor do i know what religion the shopkeepers followed, if any.

Would you be equally as angry with the much larger massed group of knuckle-draggers if a white shopkeeper had refused to sell to an non-white ?

I recall clearly a 'situation' on EMT almost 5 years ago which was kept as low profile as possible because the racism aspect was the wrong way round for do-gooders to stomach

One rule for all please

 

[jon0844]

This story sounds like all the others, such as pubs not being able to fly flags because they will offend, or the other one going around (and I think it did last year) about some retailers not allowing people to sell poppies (same excuse; causing offence).

Most of these stories are third-hand, but spread quickly. Even when disproven, or the real facts show it might have been for another reason, the damage is done.

I have people on Facebook that spread this drivel, which seems to come from some new racist party called Britain First.

Just ignore it, and also question those who spread the stories and add on comments like 'Well if xxxx don't like it, they should **** off back home' and so on - showing their 'true' colours.

 

[muz379]

Would you be equally as angry with the much larger massed group of knuckle-draggers if a white shopkeeper had refused to sell to an non-white ?

I recall clearly a 'situation' on EMT almost 5 years ago which was kept as low profile as possible because the racism aspect was the wrong way round for do-gooders to stomach

One rule for all please

Now you are just coming accross as prejudiced . Which I really dont think you are or intend to be .

How do you know it would be a much larger massed group if it was the other way round ?

Id be just as angry if it was a bunch of people from an Asian background protesting because a white shopkeeper made such a mistake as well .

Personally any form of racism or prejudice should be fought against that goes whatever way round the racism is taking place .
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

This story sounds like all the others, such as pubs not being able to fly flags because they will offend, or the other one going around (and I think it did last year) about some retailers not allowing people to sell poppies (same excuse; causing offence).

Most of these stories are third-hand, but spread quickly. Even when disproven, or the real facts show it might have been for another reason, the damage is done.

I have people on Facebook that spread this drivel, which seems to come from some new racist party called Britain First.

Just ignore it, and also question those who spread the stories and add on comments like 'Well if xxxx don't like it, they should **** off back home' and so on - showing their 'true' colours.

its the same as the age old oh no we cant put Christmas decs up or Christmas lights in case it offends Muslims . Its just not the case . Someone working for some council somewhere might be interpreting it that way . But ive never known Muslims living in Britain get upset about Christmas

. We put Christmas lights in our front window every year and our Muslim neighbors dont get offended . Just like we dont get offended when they put banners over their door to celebrate eid

But then if you read the daily mail no doubt you can regale us with the numerous tails of Muslims trying to sabotage Christmas in the UK .

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

its the same as the age old oh no we cant put Christmas decs up or Christmas lights in case it offends Muslims . Its just not the case . Someone working for some council somewhere might be interpreting it that way . But ive never known Muslims living in Britain get upset about Christmas

We put Christmas lights in our front window every year and our Muslim neighbors dont get offended . Just like we dont get offended when they put banners over their door to celebrate eid

But then if you read the daily mail no doubt you can regale us with the numerous tails of Muslims trying to sabotage Christmas in the UK .

Going back to the days of my youth, there was a saying that the Jewish shopkeepers at Christmas used to think..."What a friend we have in Jesus".

 

[ExRes]

Now you are just coming accross as prejudiced . Which I really dont think you are or intend to be .

How do you know it would be a much larger massed group if it was the other way round ?

Id be just as angry if it was a bunch of people from an Asian background protesting because a white shopkeeper made such a mistake as well .

Personally any form of racism or prejudice should be fought against that goes whatever way round the racism is taking place .

NO NO NO NO NO

Read it, I said 'one rule for all please', what is prejudiced about that ?

 

[Y961 XBU]

IIRC, the Licensing Act of 2003 removed the offence of selling alcohol to policemen on duty (except in specified circumstances). So there is a possible area of running the shop that might have led to a genuine mistake, especially if, as described earlier, it was the more elderly staff involved. No story - move along.
What does make me angry, however, is that the massed knuckle-draggers are all doing as much as they can to force a "racist" element into the story. I do not know what "race" (other than human) the squaddies were. Nor do i know what religion the shopkeepers followed, if any.

I would say its not just about that now but they have also clearly shown that they dont even know the legal age to sell Cig's as their first Notice saying sorry said that the law was 16 when its been 18 for years