Spring Break
Editorial: Big Y fraternization policies go too far
Our Opinion
Issue date: 10/13/08 Section: Commentary
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Under a doctrine known as "fraternization," local Big Y stores have been refusing to sell students alcohol if they come with or speak to anyone in the grocery store who is under the age of 21. Big Y managers have refused to comment on this policy.
Although some liquor stores have had similar policies for years, Big Y's policy has gone too far. The devil in this situation is in the details: to begin with, Big Y is not a liquor store and doesn't sell any hard alcohol. Instead, the most students can pick up there is small quantities of beer or wine coolers, not nearly enough to fuel a party. Secondly, students go to Big Y mainly to pick up groceries, not alcohol. It is perfectly legal for students under the age of 21 to buy groceries, yet students must separate themselves by age (and not carpool) if they would also like to buy alcohol. Third, it is unfair for students to have to worry about who they happen to see or speak to in a public place. This is not communist Russia and we should not have to be afraid of a KGB-like monitoring system. If students happen to see people they know, they should be able to say hello without having it affect their ability to make a purchase.
Finally, the most troubling part of Big Y's fraternization policy is that it unfairly targets students. A mother shopping with her young child is unlikely to be targeted by this policy, but a senior would not be able to buy alcohol if shopping with their younger sibling.
Ultimately, this policy is both ridiculous and unfair. If a student is 21 years old, state law says they are legally allowed to purchase alcohol. Big Y is not the Supreme Court and it is not up to them to interpret this law.
In truth, the two local Big Y stores are largely dependent upon student shoppers as a stream of revenue. Perhaps students ought to take their business elsewhere, at least until Big Y reconsiders discriminating against them.
Viewing Comments 1 - 6 of 9
Bob
posted 10/13/08 @ 2:33 PM EST
Well said... my wife and I stopped shopping at Big Y a little over a month ago because of this ridiculous policy.
I'm sure when underage kids buy alcohol they have the common sense to wait outside. (Continued…)
Trace LeShep
posted 10/13/08 @ 3:01 PM EST
You wrote: "In truth, the two local Big Y stores are largely dependent on student shoppers..."
Support for this statement please. My family spends more in one week at Big Y than most student shoppers spend throughout their complete academic "career. (Continued…)
Student
posted 10/13/08 @ 9:06 PM EST
Oh, the irony. Big Y is so draconian about the actual process of carding people, but their assessment of ID validity is absolutely laughable. You could hand the cashier a business card and they'd take it if it had a DOB printed on it. (Continued…)
Eidur
posted 10/13/08 @ 11:18 PM EST
The "communist Russia" and "KGB" references were totally unwarranted and over the top.
Leigh
posted 10/14/08 @ 1:35 PM EST
Yet another reason not to shop at Big Y. They don't double coupons like every other grocery store does and they don't take American Express either. Big Y is one of the few grocery stores in this area that is not unionized by the way. (Continued…)
Ronald
posted 10/16/08 @ 9:44 AM EST
Two things. One, I work at Big Y, and I can say that this policy is completely foreign to me.
Also, Leigh, I don't think that Big Y treats their employees terribly. (Continued…)
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