A £5,000 fine and a criminal record. That is what a supermarket cashier faces if caught selling alcohol to someone under-age.

Yet according to our poll at the end of this article and the debate on our SpeakOut page, the majority of Kent Online readers believe the Tesco worker who refused to sell a mother a bottle of wine because she was with her 17-year-old daughter was in the wrong.

The incident happened at the Tesco store in Whitfield, near Dover. The woman has asked not to be named, but a family friend described it as "a ludicrous situation".

She added: "My friend told her it was not for her daughter but for herself and her husband, but the assistant was adamant."

Hazel Cairns from Garlinge, near Margate - who is herself a cashier at Tesco at Whitstable - sums up the situation the member of staff was faced with. She writes: "It is very difficult to judge young people's ages.

"We were shown a video about what happens if we serve to someone under-age thinking they look a lot older. The cashier can get a fine of up to £5,000 and a criminal record.

"Most of the public don't know this, otherwise they would be more understanding."

A spokesman for the Kent branch of Trading Standards confirmed the potential punishment, which also extends to the store and the licence-holder.

But others on our SpeakOut have been telling us their own stories of being refused service - and it seems to be a frustrating experience.

Michelle Waterton, from Dover, said: "I had the very same issue a few weeks ago with my partner - who is 25!

"We were shopping at Tesco in Whitfield, bought one bottle of wine with the shop and the checkout girl insisted on seeing his ID - as I paid for the shopping. I found it a little odd to say the least."

And it's not just Tesco. Chatham's Steve Young says: "I was with my 19-year-old daughter in Morrisons when I was refused alcohol as she was unable to provide any ID. But I was in the same store a few days later (again with my daughter) and had no problems at all.

"I am all for trying to prevent youngsters getting hold of alcohol illegally...but let's get the supermarkets doing the same for everyone, everyday, and not just the odd occasion when they feel like it."

A spokesman for Tesco said: "If the cashier believes the alcohol is being bought for someone who is under-age, they will not sell it, and we support our cashiers.

"People can sometimes be offended by this, and we apologise for what is a misunderstanding. We will always err on the side of caution."