A few weeks ago, I went into my local town centre with my brother James (aged 17) and my cousin Charles (aged 16). As per usual with a trip to town, we visited HMV. I found a handful of CD's to buy as did James. I also found the Family Guy Road to the North Pole episode on DVD. Now for those who don't know, its a 15 certificate. James gave me his CD and the money it cost (when we both buy anything from HMV we always do this, just for convenience) and I went to queue at the till. James and Charles both accompanied me. The CD's were scanned through, but the employee on the till asked to see ID for all three of us before he would sell the DVD. Having driving licences, me and James simply showed our licences but Charles only had an ID card from secondary school (which had his date of birth on it) which was rejected. The employee on the till subsequently said he couldn't sell us the DVD because there was valid proof all of us were over 15. I asked if I came back by myself would I be able to buy it and was told I wouldn't be able to.
After this incident, I phoned Mum, who had been on my side during a similar incident in which I brought Red Bull from a local village shop for an under 16 knowing perfectly well it wasn't shop policy to sell it to under 16's, for an opinion. She initially said not to go back as it would just aggravate the situation. However, after consulting Dad, she said I should go back on my own, try and buy it again and if the employee refused to sell it, ask to speak to the manager. I went back and brought the DVD and, as it happens, was served by a different employee.
So was the employee entitled not to sell the DVD to me? Should I have been sold the DVD? Should I have asked to see the manager after the employee refused to sell it?
