Can’t buy alcohol with a “minor” present? Well I’ll send her home!

[u/sbtrey23]

So I went to Walmart to buy some alcohol. It was me (26), my two brothers (23), and one of my brother’s girlfriend (21). We all went in together to shop and thus, got in line together. I went to pay and the cashier asked to see my ID. I showed her and then she asked to see everyone else’s. I asked why and she said that if there are three or more people in a group buying alcohol, they all have to show ID. Of course, my brother’s gf left her wallet at home (since she had no reason to bring it), so the cashier refused to sell us alcohol. I asked, what if I was a father with his wife and 15 year old kid? Could you sell me alcohol then? She said no.

So, I left the store, had my brothers and brother’s gf drive to another store in the plaza that we had go to, and I went back in to get alcohol. The original cashier saw me in line and said that I couldn’t buy it. I asked why not, and she said it’s because she knew I had someone without their ID with me. I said that that person is not only not in the store, but not even on the store’s property. She still refused because she said the girl was with me 15 minutes before. After a back and forth, she talked to a coworker and the coworker said she had to sell me the alcohol. And that’s the story of how I beat the silly alcohol policy of Walmart.

EDIT: lot of comments on this so I’ll address the biggest points I’ve seen brought up. 1) I did feel bad about the situation and apologized throughout my conversation with the employee. I know that she was just doing her job snd don’t really blame her. 2) liquor stores around me close at 7 and it was around 8, so going to another store wasn’t an option, otherwise, we would have. 3) obviously we didn’t NEED alcohol. We aren’t alcoholics. But I was responsible for bringing the alcohol for a get together and would’ve felt like a real dick if I had shown up empty handed.

Also, I’d just like to point out that this was like two years and pre pandemic. I’m not throwing parties during a pandemic.

EDIT 2: I realized that I started the post by putting our current ages and then switched halfway through, so I updated the ages to what they were at the time (not that it particularly matters). That’s what I get for writing a post at 2am 😅

[u/Aksurah]

How do you prove what someone "believed" at any one point? Why should a consumer be at the ignorant whim of someone who has nowhere near enough information to make such an assertation? What's keeping someone from just implying that they are consistently under the impression anyone who is buying alcohol is doing so for a minor, resulting in refusing to sell to alcohol to anyone?

[u/Eggburtius → u/Aksurah]

I dare say you don't unless they give a statement saying so.

[u/Aksurah → u/Eggburtius]

Sorry, I asked a number of questions. Which one are you answering?

[u/Eggburtius → u/Aksurah]

Sorry. Only saw the first part about belief. So that was my answer. In regards to the next 2

First it's about being a responsible retailer so if there's a suspected proxy sale you would refuse the sale. It's not in the business interest to have a reputation for being loose with the law. I suppose that answers the 2 points that followed. A staff member wouldn't be doing their job if they refused claiming false proxy sales every time.