child paying for fuel

[lawsanass]

When I filled my car up this morning in my local Total garage my 11 year old son went in to the shop to pay with cash. (He likes to do it, it makes him feel grown up) The cashier refused to take the money and sent him back out to get me. They told me its illegal to take the money from a child under 16 and I had to hand the money over personally. Is this correct? I know children under 16 are not allowed to use the pumps for health and safety reasons but is it illegal for them try and pay for the fuel ? thanks

[gina32]

yes you have to be 16 or over to pay

[sandmaster]

It is illegal to sell certain substances to someone under 16. The sale is completed when the sum due is paid - so I believe the garage was absolutely correct.

[paraffin]

Sadly, yes, but maybe you could accompany him in future - I know it's not quite the same but surely they wouldn't refuse him then?

[lawsanass]

thanks for your replys, seems a rather stupid law but then who am i to question the powers that be, never mind, I will have to go with him in future, hope it doesn't ruin his street cred :)

[TylerTots]

Its not a stupid law at all. Do you really think under 16s should be able to buy petrol? I dont. Its a very dangerous fuel in the wrong hands. I appriciate the situation you are in is completly harmless. but imagine. a busy station sells a can of petrol to a child, he then burns something, and himself with it. What questions are asked? who is to blame?

[tigwig]

I think that selling a child petrol in a can is a completely different matter and that would not be right! It can hardly be used to compare to the above situation.

[Beanmistriss]

I worked in a shop when I was at school and we used to get kids come in and ask for fags for their Dad. Even if they pointed at their car and there was an adult sat in it we still couldnt sell them. Similar thing I suppose.

[lawsanass]

The point is, my son was only paying, ie handing over the money, I had put the fuel in the car, he was not doing anything dangerous. He was just handing over the money. I would never let him put fuel in the car or a can or anything related to using the pump. I am just shocked that it is illegal to hand over money.

[gentleman]

This comes under Substance Abuse Law for Sale of solvent to anyone under the age of 18 years. Silly it may be to you but would you accept it if your child goes to pay for petrol to sniff it for his addiction? Of course not you say!

[lawsanass]

It was quite obvious that my son was not driving a car so therefore to hand over �40 for fuel it was not a can either. It was also my older, 22 yr old son who was the cashier !!! which is why I am asking these questions, we got in a bit of a row about it. My older son saw me filling up, then knew it was his brother paying but still insisted on being a 'jobsworth' I absolutely agree with all posts regarding obtaining fuel, but this was just paying for it, I was still stood at the pump !. Its a quiet country road with very few customers. Understand that there are rules though.

[hc4361]

Yes and probably CCTV at the pay area, where your older son could be disciplined or sacked if his bosses saw him taking money for petrol from a minor.