Woman asked for ID when buying pot of melon and grapes 'in case they fermented into alcohol'

A 37-year-old woman was told she would need to show ID to buy fruit in case it fermented and turned alcoholic. Kate Lancaster had been using a self-service checkout at Tesco in Plymouth, Devon, to purchase a pot of melon and grapes when the fruit flashed up as ‘requiring ID’. She later emailed the supermarket giant to ask why fruit would be age-restricted, only to be told it could be because fruit ferments, therefore turning it alcoholic.

Kate, from Cattedown, said she “fell about laughing” when she heard the pack of melon and grapes might require ID. Kate had initially e-mailed Tesco to complain of bad customer service at the store, and says when the melon and grapes flagged up as security tagged staff were too busy chatting to help her. But the response from Tesco wasn’t what she was expecting, as well as apologising for bad customer service she was told all fruit might soon be age-verified in case “natural fermentation” takes place.



In her first email to Tesco, Kate wrote: “I used your self service tills, and there was a problem with the melon which came up as security tagged. The woman who was meant to be looking after the tills was stood at the end, chatting with her friend. Eventually I caught her eye and she walked over. She didn't smile or say hello, but just reached over to scan her card. I made a joke about the melon being security tagged and she actively blanked me, made no response whatsoever other than to continue talking to her friend over my head.”

In a response, the Tesco employee who replied apologised and promised to give staff at the store additional customer service training, but added: “I have heard a rumour that all fruit will be age verified ongoing in case natural fermentation takes place.” Kate said the idea was “crazy” and goes against policies to encourage children to eat more fruit and veg. Kate added: “When I got the response from Tesco I told my friend at work and we fell about laughing, it’s just incredulous. You couldn’t make it up.” Kate then asked Tesco to clarify the policy, and was eventually told it had been a mistake and there were no plans to restrict fruit for under 18s.