A WOMAN was refused service in a supermarket because the cashier assumed she was buying alcohol for her daughter.

Samantha Worsfold, 40, of Picketts Road, Canvey, attempted to buy champagne and beer from Morrisons, off Roscommon Way, Canvey.

However, a cashier turned her down after overhearing the woman remind her daughter Stephanie, 17, to give her money for the champagne.

Mrs Worsfold insisted the fizzy drink was supposed to be a gift for Stephanie’s father Andrew, not for her daughter’s consumption.

She also complained to the store manager, but was allegedly told nothing could be done because of company policy.

Mrs Worsfold said: “They said to me ‘no, I can’t sell it to you because you’re buying it for her’.

“I said it wasn’t for her and that I’d just take the beers, but they wouldn’t sell me those either because they thought they were for her.

“They were for my husband. The champagne was also supposed to be a gift for my husband.”

It is against the law for minors to purchase alcohol, or for adults to buy alcohol on behalf of a minor.

Mrs Worsfold said she understood why the store would want to prevent alcohol being bought for an under age girl.

However, she said: “I wasn’t buying it for her, it was a gift for her father.

“They were invading my privacy, listening in to my conversation.”

A Morrisons spokesman said: “We have a policy of not selling alcohol unless we can be certain it will not be consumed by anyone under 18.

“We are required by law to police the sale of alcohol and take our responsibility very seriously.

“As part of this we have adopted Challenge 25, as a policy of asking for proof of age from anyone who does not appear over the age of 25.

“The Challenge 25 policy also insists a sale is refused if the seller knows the product is being purchased on behalf of a person under the age of 18.

“This policy is clearly displayed in store.”