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General Forum - Got Racially Discriminated against by the Co-Op on Friday - Page 1
posted by Mercury In Glass on Sunday, 29th August 2010, 06:36
Mostly Harmless
I got racially discriminated against by my local Co-Operative supermarket in Headington, Oxford on Friday. I popped in to buy a Euromillions lottery ticket, but was very surprised when the bloke behind the cigarette counter, where the lottery machine is, asked me if I had any ID.
I am THIRTY-FIVE years old, and look like I am in my thirties at least. The last time I was asked for any proof of age was in 1992, when I was 18 and was at University, when I needed to prove that I was under 27 in order to get a Young Persons' Rail Card. I have never been refused service anywhere, and have been watching certificate 18 rated movies at the cinema since Total Recall in 1990, when I was 15.
I asked the bloke if he was joking, and asked him how old he thought I was. He told me that he thought I looked 25, and would not sell me a lottery ticket without seeing some ID. I told him that I am 35 and that he was being very insulting, and asked to speak to someone in charge. I then spoke to his supervisor, who told me that he was entitled to ask me for ID if he thought that I was under 25. I repeated that they could not be serious, since there is no way they could mistake me for being under 16 years of age, which is the minimum age for purchasing a lottery ticket.
I am not used to being insulted and disrespected in this way, and have never needed to carry ID around with me in this country. I showed them my credit cards, to prove that I am over 18, but was told that this was not good enough. In the end I decided not to bother to continue arguing with them, and went to the newsagent where I purchased my lottery ticket, without any trouble at all.
On the way back from the newsagent I realised why this bloke had decided not to sell me a lottery ticket. The people in the queue before me were not asked for ID when they purchased their lottery tickets. There is no way that anyone would honestly mistake me for being under 16, especially when the bloke said that he thought I looked 25. He had decided that he did not want to sell me a lottery ticket, because I am different, and had decided to make me jump through hoops to see if I am an immigrant, or a foreign student, and to decide if I am worthy of participating in his lottery.
I can not compensate for who I am, and am fed up of this kind of racist behaviour. Unfortunately no one was behind me in the queue, and I did not kick up enough of a fuss for other people in the shop to notice, since I was in shock for being asked to prove that I am over 16, when I am THIRTY-FIVE years old!!!!
The only thing that I can do is to close my Co-Op accounts, and to inform people about the behaviour of some of the people in this company.
If anyone who is reading this has any racist friends living in Oxford, then please can you let them know that one of their people is operating in the Headington Co-Op, with approval from the management. If they want to go shopping with their own people, then the Headington Co-Op is a good place to go to, since they will not need to interact with people like me.
Similarly, if anyone knows anyone living or studying in Oxford who is not a racist, then please can they warn them about the racist working in the Headington Co-Op. He is a youngish guy with a beard, but all these young racists seem to look the same to me nowadays. Many thanks.
posted by Paull on Sunday, 29th August 2010, 08:05
Elite
I would write a letter of complaint to the Lottery headquarters, The Co-op & possibly the police.
I would not close a co-op account because of one twat.
posted by Ben Franklin on Sunday, 29th August 2010, 08:49
Reviewer
I might be wrong, but I'm not sure that's racism?
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posted by badboybez on Sunday, 29th August 2010, 09:03
Elite
IN MADNESS YOU DWELL
Have to agree - where is the racism bit? The chap just sound like an absolute cock though.
posted by dkuk2000 on Sunday, 29th August 2010, 09:26
Elite
Maybe your lucky and look youthful, If that was the case the person was following the law
Quote:
Age Restricted Sales
•An offence may be committed by the seller (employer) and the business owner)
•Different products have different age restrictions
•Do challenge the age of every young person
•Do demand proof of age: No Card - No Sale
•Do not rely on looks alone
•Do exercise your right not to sell
•If in any doubt do not sell
•Do introduce a due diligence procedure
•Seek advice if in doubt about any aspect of the law or these guidance notes
I think it would be a little OTT to play the racial card.
Anti.Clown.Coalition
This item was edited on Sunday, 29th August 2010, 09:27
posted by marksparks999 on Sunday, 29th August 2010, 10:36
Elite
cant see any racial discrimination... write to their head office and camelot, then just forget it, it will ruin you life if you let it eat away at you!
posted by Snaps on Sunday, 29th August 2010, 10:37
Elite
Letters of complaint to CoOp and lottery asking for an explanation and an apology.
I'm inclined to agree that I don't see the racist bit but then I wasn't there.
Snaps
Every Third Car
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posted by Pete-MK on Sunday, 29th August 2010, 10:45
Elite Donator
I think the racism's in this bit:
Quote:
On the way back from the newsagent I realised why this bloke had decided not to sell me a lottery ticket. The people in the queue before me were not asked for ID when they purchased their lottery tickets. There is no way that anyone would honestly mistake me for being under 16, especially when the bloke said that he thought I looked 25. He had decided that he did not want to sell me a lottery ticket, because I am different, and had decided to make me jump through hoops to see if I am an immigrant, or a foreign student, and to decide if I am worthy of participating in his lottery.
while it's not actually mentioned, I believe it's inferred that the other people in the queue before him were of a differing ethnicity
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posted by bandicoot on Sunday, 29th August 2010, 12:16
Elite
Sorry but....the one important thing you seem to be omitting here, are you Black, Asian, or East European, etc.
I do not see the racialist statment here, as we do not know what you look or sound like.
Anyway, there is no way an employee of the Co-op should refuse to give a lottery ticket to anyone 16 or over, and should be reported to the head of the branch or Co-op HQ.
Anyway it sound more like ageism to me 
This item was edited on Sunday, 29th August 2010, 12:20
posted by Rob Shepherd on Sunday, 29th August 2010, 12:29
Super Admin
A friend of mine had the same issue buying cigarettes at a local shop, he got quite irate in an Alan Partridge way, it would happen time after time even though the very same people had ID'd him the day before, they'd still demand it again. His constant arguing on principle got him banned from the shop in the end!
It was absolutely nothing to do with race though.
I'd complain to the co-op, tell them why you suspect you were carded like that. Alas I'm not sure you can really prove (or know 100%) it was a racism thing.
We could maybe offer our opinion on how old you look, but you might not want to expose your mug.
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