A shocked mother has hit out at supermarket bosses after checkout staff refused to sell her beer because they suspected it was for her 15-year-old daughter.

Antonia Viner was completing her weekly shop at Morrisons in Skipton when she was asked to provide ID for her daughter Amber, who was with her.

The Skipton hairdresser says she was buying four bottles of Sol beer for her husband, Mark, but staff refused to believe her.

Now Mrs Viner, 36, has vowed never to return to the store as its “over-zealous” Think 25 Policy on alcohol sales makes it impossible to shop with children.

Mrs Viner said: “I got to the wines and spirits checkout and was asked for ID. I thought it was funny and said, ‘I think I’m old enough.’ Then I realised they wanted ID for Amber, even though it was me buying the beers.

“Amber volunteered her bus pass, but I thought they were being ridiculous as they had no grounds whatsoever to think I was buying the alcohol for my daughter.

“Much to the embarrassment of my daughter, I asked to speak to the manager. A supervisor said they were following company policy, calling it the law. The supervisor suggested if I wanted to buy beer, then we should perhaps leave the children in the car or, worse still, in the car park.

“It all got a bit heated and at one point a man shouted to me ‘Leave it, love, they are always doing it.’ A client has also told me that it has happened to her.

“The staff in the supermarket kept saying I could be a mystery shopper, but I think they don’t understand their own policy and are misapplying it.” Husband Mark, 43, a former Upper Wharfedale Rugby player, said he was lodging an official complaint.

“Morrisons are adopting a ‘guilty until proven innocent’ approach which goes against everything we stand for in a free democracy,” he said. “A till operator, often 18-ish, is making an assumption our intention is to break the law by buying alcohol for a minor.

“Antonia and I are responsible adults who try to educate our children in all aspects of life including consumption of alcohol. Part of this is including our children in the process, that is shopping for it, keeping it in the fridge and drinking it as responsibly as possible. Sounds basic, but that’s how it is.

“We also, on occasion, make the heinous step of allowing the children to taste! Whatever next!”

Mr Viner said: “I feel it is my duty as a member of the local community to let other parents know shopping with children at Morrisons will limit your ability to complete the full shopping list.

“I think this decision has wider implications relating to the power the supermarkets wield, planning, pricing and now apparently setting laws.”

A Morrisons spokesman said the company adhered closely to strict regulations barring stores from selling alcohol to adults whom they believed intended to supply to minors.

“In this case, as it was not possible to establish who the product was intended for, the store used its own judgement and refused sale,” said the spokesman.

“The store followed procedure. We apologise if the customer thought the store was being over-zealous in applying these rules.

“Morrisons welcomes families into all its stores and does not have a policy where children should be left outside the store.

“These rules are in place to protect our customers and their families, who, in the majority of cases, appreciate our vigilance in the sale of age-restricted products.”