KROGER is receiving some backlash after announcing the specifics of its alcohol ID policy.
At most grocers and supermarkets, shoppers can expect to be carded when purchasing any type of alcohol if they appear under 30.
But Kroger has taken that rule a step further as it attempts to cut down on underage drinking by requiring employees to ID everyone regardless of how old they appear.
One shopper was floored by this policy and took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to criticize the store’s actions.
“I absolutely understand you are trying to squash underage drinking by carding everyone wanting to buy alcohol, including this clearly 50 something year-old lady trying to buy some Chardonnay (because life is hard)…. but her license was expired by just 2 days,” one user wrote on the platform.
Kroger was quick to respond and defend its policy.
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“Our policy is that all customers will be carded, regardless of their age. Cashiers will scan the back of the Customers ID at checkout. Data is not stored in our computer systems at all,” the grocer said on X.
“This is done to speed up the checkout process and reduce the number of typos when entering dates of birth,” the company continued.
“If customers do not feel comfortable with the store scanning their ID, they can request that the cashier manually enter their date of birth instead.”
While it’s unlikely Kroger will be changing its policy any time soon, the store did say it would send the feedback to its leadership team.
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“We apologize for the inconvenience this may have caused and are sharing your comments with our leadership team,” Kroger tweeted. “Please feel free to reach out to leadership at the store with any further concerns regarding the policy.”
KROGER IN THE NEWS
While Kroger may be feeling the heat when it comes to its strict ID policy, shoppers were ecstatic to learn the chain was adding several grab-and-go options as part of its partnership with 80 Acre Farms.
The food producer, 80 Acres Farms, started selling products at Kroger stores in Ohio in 2019.
The brands expanded to Michigan, Tennessee, and Georgia stores earlier this year.
But now up to 1,000 stores across the Midwest and Southeast will now carry the produce, according to a press release.
That doesn’t mean the grocery chain hasn’t withstood other criticism in recent weeks.
As Kroger transitions away from traditional cash registers and toward cost-cutting self-checkout machines, shoppers have called the brand out for the controversial decision.
"Thank you for reminding me why I hate your stores... only self-checkout lines open," the angry customer said in a post on X.
"If I wanted to work a 2nd job at Kroger clerking/bagging, I'd apply. I left my cart, grabbed the two items I had to have for my diabetic dog, and only gave you $7 worth of business."
Kroger apologized for the "lack of registers" available and asked the customer for the store location.
The store has also landed in hot water over various discontinued products at stores.
The entire lineup of Turkey Hill ice cream went missing, for instance.
The brand has been well-known at grocery stores, offering a range of flavors from Black Cherry and Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough to Butter Pecan and Orange Cream Swirl.
Kroger's private label Grill Time Steak Seasoning was also axed by the grocer as well.
The ingredients for the Kroger-branded seasoning included red pepper, extract of paprika, black pepper, salt, garlic, silicon dioxide, dill seed, coriander seed, and other spices, according to Kroger's description of the item.
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A popular soda beverage will also no longer be available at the budget grocer.
Customers have also been calling out restaurants in a major city for adding secret surcharges to their checks.
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