SUPERMARKET giant Tesco has come in for more criticism after a couple were refused alcohol because the wife did not have any identification with her.

Robert Kendal, 27, and his wife, Amie, of Acomb, York, had done a full week's worth of shopping at the York store and had a loaded trolley when they also decided they would like a bottle of wine.

But the checkout assistant believed 24-year-old Amie may have been under 18 and her husband was buying the wine for her.

Mr Kendal said: "After scanning the entire load of goods the cashier asked for some ID. Now, at 27 I'm not exactly old, but I am slowly getting to the stage where I quite welcome getting ID out as I think well at least I look young enough for it'. So in response I reached in my pocket for my driving licence, only to be told that my wife and I would both need some form of ID."

He said the cashier told them it was Tesco policy and they would not be allowed to buy the wine - even though Mr Kendal said a family behind them were allowed to buy a crate of lager.

He said: "Seeing no light at the end of the tunnel we gave up and left, not before I walked around a different checkout and back to the wine aisle to collect my bottle and try again with a different cashier. However, our original eagle-eyed cashier must have seen me and called the manager who confronted me and refused me again, then asked me to leave.

"Now I will admit it was a little foolish of me to attempt a sneaky re-entry, but it is inexplicably frustrating to be dictated to about what I can and can't purchase when there is no legal reason that I can find that should prevent it, other than a ridiculous policy and the good old right to refuse service.

"My wife and I have since boycotted Tesco and anything to do with them in protest."

But a spokesman for Tesco said it was illegal to sell alcohol to someone if it was thought the alcohol may be for a minor and they would be supporting members of staff who refused to serve people alcohol. He said Mrs Kendal may well have looked younger than 21 years old which was probably why Mr Kendal was refused.

He added: "It illustrates the difficult job our staff have to do.

"We do operate Think 21 so if the cashier thinks you look under 21 you will be asked for ID and if you can't provide it you will be refused although we apologise for any inconvenience."