Ellen Fitzgerald, Patricia Fitzgerald and 16-week old Theo outside Asda’s Canterbury store

by Jamie Bullen

A mum is demanding an apology from supermarket giant Asda after staff refused to sell her alcohol for her son's christening - despite her being 39.

Patricia Fitzgerald, of Hillbrow Avenue, Sturry, was doing her weekly shop at the Sturry Road store with her family when she was denied the booze.

Despite explaining it was for her three-month-old baby Theo's christening, she said staff refused the sale because her 18-year-old son Ricky and his girlfriend Izzy Taylor, 16, did not have any ID.

She even asked her 70-year-old mother Ellen Fitzgerald to pay for the drink, but was told she would also be refused because she was in the same group.

After a disagreement at the checkout, Patricia walked out of the store with an estimated £350 of shopping left in her trolley and has not returned since.

She said: "I felt humiliated. I explained I was buying mixed drink because it's my son's christening, but they just asked for Ricky and Izzy’s ID.

"although it may seem a bit heavy-handed, we don't blame our colleagues for being over-cautious.…” – asda spokesman jo newbould

"I thought Asda was supposed to be a family shop, but they are saying that I’m not allowed to go shopping with children.

"My son is always with me - he helps me pack the bags and bring it home.

"You don’t get many young kids who want to go shopping with their mum.

"I have been shopping at Asda since I was 10. My mum has always taken me and I've taken my children.

"I bought all my baby bits from there and I’ve had three children and brought up another four."

Patricia said she visited rivals Morrisons and quizzed staff on their policy about selling alcohol to adults accompanied by children.

She added: "I spoke to a woman who said 'I can see you are doing a family shop. If it was your son I would ask, but you use your common sense'."

"There has been quite a few people I have spoken to that have been turned away from Asda. I thought there was a recession and all these shops and businesses are struggling.

"I would like an apology and for them to use their common sense."

Asda spokesman Jo Newbould said checkout staff are encouraged not to sell alcohol to anyone accompanied by someone under 18 because they are liable for an £80 fine.

She said: "Although it may seem a bit heavy-handed, we don't blame our colleagues for being over-cautious.

"If they serve alcohol to anyone under the age of 18 the law says they will be held personally responsible and could be handed an on the spot fine.

"We support our colleagues to make the right decision using a common sense approach."