Coronavirus: Waitrose home delivery drivers told to carry out age ID checks through self-isolating customers' windows

The measure was rolled out by Waitrose on Tuesday as workers were told not to enter the homes of people who might be infected with Covid-19.

Employees have been told to get customers to stand at a window so they can see if they appear old enough to buy age-restricted products.

If the verdict is unclear, the policy states shoppers should then be asked to present valid ID through the glass.

Waitrose drivers have also been told to greet customers from ‘between 2m and 5m away’ and leave their shopping on the doorstep.

The advice has gone out to staff across the company, which has delivery facilities in Waterlooville that serve the Portsmouth area.

A Waitrose spokesman said: ‘At Waitrose our priority is to protect our customers and our partners.

‘We are therefore asking customers to let us know if they are self isolating so that we can leave their shopping outside their property.

‘Legally we are required to apply an age verification policy for restricted items – and, when necessary, we have asked customers to show us ID through their windows.

‘This has worked well to date, however, if it wasn't practical we would discuss with the customer how we can still help them.’

The ID checks come under Challenge 25 law from 2009 to avoid illegal sales to shoppers whose age is doubtful, based on their appearance.

In advice issued to its home delivery drivers, Waitrose said: ‘When making a delivery to a customer who is self-isolating, you should not enter the customer’s home.

‘However, you should still apply Challenge 25 by greeting the customer from at least 2m away or through a window.’

It continues: ‘The driver must see the customer before leaving the order at the customer's address.

‘This should either be from a distance – minimum of 2m away and no further than 5m away – or through a clear window.

‘If after applying Challenge 25 age verification is required, the driver must see a valid form of ID through a window.’

Waitrose has a policy not to leave shopping with under-18s, so customers who are not buying age-restricted goods may still have to show ID.

The News has contacted all other top supermarkets which deliver to Portsmouth to ask whether similar measures have been put in place.

A spokesman for Asda failed to comment and said the British Retail Consortium ‘will speak on behalf of all supermarkets’.

However, a BRC spokesman said: ‘Individual retailers will be taking the steps they need to take in regards to the safety of their customers and to make sure their supply chains aren't interrupted.

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'If customers want to self-isolate that's their choice and retailers will try and manage around that.'

Tesco, Iceland, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Amazon Prime and Ocado also failed to comment despite follow-up attempts.

As of March 4, a total of 85 people have tested positive for coronavirus in the UK and the first case in Hampshire was confirmed. Yesterday saw the first death from the virus in the UK.

The government said anyone experiencing a cough, shortness of breath or a high temperature should stay inside if they have recently travelled to China, South Korea, Hong Kong, Japan, Macau, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan or Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar or Vietnam.

People who have travelled to Iran, locked down areas of Italy of special care zones in South Korea are being asked to self-isolated regardless.