Wal Mart's Latest Policy

It's ridiculous enough that I get carded for buying alcohol when I have all three children with me, but Wal-Mart's newest policy on selling alcohol may be the dumbest policy I've ever heard.  I'm not sure if this is a nation wide thing or just a local chain cracking down, but apparently, if you purchase alcohol now, they want to
see an I.D. from everyone at the check out register.

I know, right?

Before heading out to enjoy our Fourth of July festivities, we made the customary stop at Wal-Mart to stock up on essentials like, beer, bacon, and cookie dough.  This wasn't just a quick-run-inside-and-get-back-out-as-fast-as-you-can operation.  Our entire family (5 in all) made this little pilgrimage from the front of the store, to the back of the store, back to the front check out aisle.

The only time I'm really choosy about which check out lane I get in is when I have alcohol.  Otherwise, it's self-check out all the way.  I hate the awkward silence that ensues after my underage cashier has to call over a manager to sell me some Sam Adams. 

The best choice Sam ever made.

Apparently, all of the older cashiers had the holiday off, so I reluctantly chose the express aisle with the girl who looked closest to 21.  Turns out she was old enough to sell it to me; Whew!  What a relief.  She then asks for my I.D.; no biggie, just doing her job.  Then she asks for my wife's I.D.  Excuse me?  She wanted to make sure that my wife was not under age, just in case I was buying the beer for her.  She explained to me their new policy of checking all I.D.s when anyone's age might be in question.  With her purse in the car, we were left at a stand-still.  "Manager!!!"  ..... cue awkward silence.

I understand that people purchasing liquor for minors is sort of a legal problem and a liability for the place of purchase.  But when I'm there with my wife and three kids, chances are we're old enough to purchase alcohol.  Who knows though? We may have started this little family at the tender age of 14, that would certainly be enough to make any father drink, but chances are I would be buying Stag or PBR instead of an over-priced seasonal six-pack.

How about: "Person abusing 10 Items or Less Aisle"

Age is a tricky thing though and I don't hold it against you cashier lady.  I myself didn't think you were old enough to sell me beer in the first place.  But, even if my wife did have her I.D. and we were cool, wouldn't you need to check my children's I.D.?  What if I was purchasing the beer for them?  God knows a couple drops in the old sippy cup at night might make them sleep in till 10 o'clock.

I later talked to an employee of Wal-Mart about this policy.  She chalked it up to an inexperienced cashier being unable to use sound judgment.  I mostly agree with her.  Once the manager came over and saw the baby throwing  her bottle, our 3 year old daughter being yelled at to "Put back those M&Ms" our son asking "Can we go now", and the tired worn out expressions on these parents' faces, she rang us up and sent us out, alcohol and all.

I'll definitely be buying beer again, it's a necessary tool of the trade for any stay at home dad,but I doubt it will be from Wal-Mart.