refused to sell cigarettes

[rmorlock]

What is the name of your state? CO

This actually happened awhile ago and I was wondering about it lately.

About a year ago I worked at a gas station convienence store. I woman who was obviously pregnant came in trying to buy cigarrettes and I refused to sell them to her. She got mad and stormed out. Later I was talking with my boss and the situation came up and he got angry and said that I should have sold the cigarettes. He said it wasn't my place to refuse a sale (I was the only one working at the time). I said that I would not ever sell cigarrettes to someone who was pregnant. The issue never really came up again.

What is your opinion? Legally, can the boss make me sell or can he fire me if I don't (I am not sure on the actual company policy).

Thanks.

 

[cbg]

Of course your boss can require you to sell them and fire you if you refuse. It's not up to you to decide who can buy cigarettes. My sister doesn't smoke but she buys cigarettes for her husband; how do YOU know she was buying them for herself? And who put you in charge of who should and should not smoke anyway?

You were completely out of line and I'd have fired you too.

 

[BelizeBreeze]

I would have fired you on the spot.

 

[Ohiogal]

So would I! If the woman was of legal age to purchase cigarettes, you should have sold them. If you are not the owner you have no right to make that call. I am pregnant and have been known to buy chewing tobacco and cigarettes. And I DO NOT SMOKE OR USE TOBACCO. Can you figure out why I might do that? Heck just the other day I even bought a case of beer. And I don't drink either. At least I never do drink beer, and I don't drink alcohol at all right now.

 

[janimal]

What if the pregnant woman had been buying a six pack?

I would refuse to serve a pregnant woman an alcoholic drink - but i wouldn't refuse to sell her a six pack. A six pack wouldn't automatically be consumed by the purchaser, just as purchasing a pack of cigarettes doesn't mean the buyer will smoke them.

I get where the OP is coming from, they just jumped to a conclusion.

 

[BelizeBreeze]

What if the pregnant woman had been buying a six pack?

I would refuse to serve a pregnant woman an alcoholic drink - but i wouldn't refuse to sell her a six pack. A six pack wouldn't automatically be consumed by the purchaser, just as purchasing a pack of cigarettes doesn't mean the buyer will smoke them.

I get where the OP is coming from, they just jumped to a conclusion.

Except that by refusing to serve a pregnant woman alcohol you can be fired on the spot and the establishment can lose its liquor license.

 

[ecmst12]

How can they lose their liquor license? I thought bars have the right to refuse service to anyone?

 

[BelizeBreeze]

How can they lose their liquor license? I thought bars have the right to refuse service to anyone?

It's not a blanket right.

 

[ecmst12]

But what law or regulation would they be violating that could cause the license to get pulled?

 

[moburkes]

But what law or regulation would they be violating that could cause the license to get pulled?

Just about anything can get that license pulled. Its political.

 

[You Are Guilty]

Anti-discrimination laws. While it might be ok to not serve one particular pregnant woman, a policy to not serve any pregnant women would run afoul of the "you can't treat pregnant women differently" laws

 

[Ohiogal]

What if the pregnant woman had been buying a six pack?

I would refuse to serve a pregnant woman an alcoholic drink - but i wouldn't refuse to sell her a six pack. A six pack wouldn't automatically be consumed by the purchaser, just as purchasing a pack of cigarettes doesn't mean the buyer will smoke them.

I get where the OP is coming from, they just jumped to a conclusion.

I agree with BB -- you have no right to NOT serve a pregnant woman an alcoholic drink. You are not a doctor and you cannot say that she is not allowed to have a single alcoholic drink. Oh and how will you determine if the woman is pregnant? Some women carry so they don't look pregnant -- I was 38 weeks pregnant with my first and went to a store and some people I knew asked me I didn't bring my new baby with me. I pointed at my stomach and they gasped. I was relatively tiny for a pregnant woman and did not have a pregnant appearance. And that was two weeks BEFORE i was due to deliver.
Even this pregnancy some people dont know I am pregnant.

 

[panzertanker]

would run afoul of the "you can't treat pregnant women differently" laws

I read that law...It was passed with the "you can't tell me what to do" law...

 

[janimal]

I dont work as a server. But if I was, i would still refuse to serve an obviously pregnant woman a drink. Has nothing to do with the law - that's just my own personal view on the subject.
Good thing I'm not a server.

If I saw an obviously pregnant woman smoking, I would ask her to put it out. None of my business, but I would still say so.

 

[cbg]

Good thing indeed you're not a server, since either could get you fired and your employer sued.