Aldi worker facing 'instant termination' for failing one task issues plea to Aussie shoppers: 'Stop being whiny'

Aldi cashiers are known for their fast scanning skills, however they are also tasked with a duty that could see them instantly fired if they fail just once. A Sydney register operator has issued a plea to shoppers after getting pushback when asking for identification to buy alcohol.

Aldi, like many retailers across Australia, has a policy where anyone who looks under the age of 25 has to be asked for ID if they want to purchase booze. Some shoppers take it as a compliment, while others don't take it well, but there's a good reason Aldi is so strict — regular secret shoppers.

"It’s grounds for instant termination if we as cashiers fail even one of these checks," the cashier revealed.

"As a result, I’m very cautious and I generally ID everyone who looks under 30-35 so there’s zero chance of me getting caught out and losing my job."

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Aldi confirmed the cashier's claim, with a spokesperson telling Yahoo Finance they take the process "very seriously" as they adhere to regulations relating to the Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA).

The cashier went on to say they were shocked at the reaction they'd received when asking for ID in the Sydney store.

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"It’s insane to me how pissy people get when they get IDed," the cashier said. "If you're under 30 and definitely under 25, there’s zero excuse to not have it on you when you buy alcohol."

"People of Sydney please stop being such whiny little bitches and just have it on you if you buy alcohol!! Saves both sides of the transaction pain."

So if you've been recently asked to produce your ID at Aldi, know it is someone simply trying to do their job.

"People never learn to take it as a compliment," said shopper said. "Also you can have your drivers license or place of address on your phone, idk where the friction is."

"Dude, I'm 49, if you ID'ed me I'd jump the counter to kiss you," said another.

A third wrote: "As an Aldi shopper I’d be flattered if you asked for my ID. People that get shirty about it don’t have enough going on in their lives."

Do I have to show ID to buy alcohol even if I am over 18?

Under the Liquor Control Reform Act 1998 it is an offence to supply alcohol to a person under the age of 18 and for a person under the age of 18 to purchase or receive alcohol.

As it can be hard to determine a person's age just by looking at them, anyone who appears to look under 25 can be asked to provide proof of identification as a safeguard.

An Aldi spokesperson said there were big penalties for selling alcohol to a minor.

"There are severe consequences and penalties for breaching the respective laws and policies set in place by the Australian federal and state governments, so we have a strong focus on compliance and ensure our teams in all licensed stores are informed on the processes and empowered to enforce them," they told Yahoo Finance.

"As part of this, our teams are trained to check the ID of any customer who appears to look under 25 years old.

"Our stores have the discretion to refuse the sale of alcohol to any customer for a number of reasons listed within the regulations if they have any doubts or concerns, including if a customer cannot provide a form of accepted identification to confirm that they are over 18, regardless of whether they look under 25 years old.”

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