WATCH: (May 14, 2014) An Oakville mother went into an LCBO store hoping to purchase a case of beer for her husband but came out empty-handed after her son touched the case. Cindy Pom has the story and the LCBO’s response.
It was supposed to be a surprise treat for her husband from the local LCBO.
But Angela Parsons was the one who was left surprised.
“I had felt like I had been slapped,” said the Oakville, Ont. mother.
On Friday, Parsons went to pick up an eight-pack of Guinness from the Oak Park LCBO.
As she walked up to the cash register with her son Evan, 17, she was refused the right to purchase the alcohol.
“Because Evan touched the case, I wasn’t allowed to buy it,” Parsons explained.
“I was struggling to get my wallet out of my purse and handed the case to Evan. Evan set it on the counter for me. The clerk asked him for ID and I honestly thought she was joking,” she added.
Parsons claims the store accused her of trying to purchase alcohol for a minor.
“I have never been so humiliated in my life. They treated me like a criminal.”
Her son eventually left the store while she stayed behind to pick up another case of beer. She was once again refused a purchase and was told to leave by the store manager.
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“Our staff are trained in all these grey areas to make judgement calls in front of them,” acknowledged LCBO spokesperson Heather MacGregor
But the company denied any wrongdoing.
“Handling can be perceived by staff as a precursor to a second-party purchase. The overriding priority is keeping alcohol out of the hands of minors, and we do not make apologies for carrying out that mandate,” said MacGregor.
Parsons told Global News that she is not looking for an apology from the LCBO but feels the rules are far from clear.
“I had no idea someone under the age of 19 was not allowed to carry the alcohol. I think people need to know that there are serious consequences,” she said.
Anyone convicted of supplying alcohol to a minor faces a fine of up to $200,000 and up to a year in prison.
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