I’m furious after Asda allowed my 7-year-old son to buy a £2 scratch card – he’s nine years under the legal age limit

A DAD has blasted Asda after claiming his son could buy a £2 scratch card – despite being nine years under the legal age limit.

James Fletcher-Retallick, 47, said he was “shocked” that son Ronnie, seven, was able to make the purchase with his allowance.

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The minimum age to purchase National Lottery scratch cards in the UK is 16 years old.

James said Ronnie was with him on a trip to the shop in Folkestone, Kent, in August.

The boy went to the cigarette counter, where a male worker allegedly first offered him candy – before allowing him to buy a scratch card.

Asda apologized and said an investigation was launched after the incident.

But James, a single father, said he was unhappy with the supermarket’s actions – and wanted a clear explanation.

He said: “I am disgusted that they did not properly acknowledge my complaint. I feel very, very disappointed in them.

“I just wanted to know that it was taken seriously and how and why it happened. It’s a serious crime.

“The store must not properly train staff if they do not know they cannot refuse the sale of restricted items to minors.

“To be honest, I’m still pretty shocked.”

The couple visited the supermarket on the evening of August 20.

Ronnie was out shopping and said he didn’t realize his son had made the purchase until he came over and said, “This is for you dad”.

He said: “I thought he picked it up off the ground when I saw it wasn’t scratched. It just seems impossible.

“We go there weekly to shop and I’ve always felt like he’s safe to spend his money while I shop – but I don’t feel that now.

“I’m not really okay with gambling. I don’t smoke and don’t drink alcohol.

“Sure, it doesn’t immediately feel as dangerous as, say, selling fireworks to a kid. But it could be just as bad for him in the long run.”

James said there was a large queue on the evening of the incident, so he filed his complaint on their next trip on August 29.

The ex-tiler, who is now a full-time father, says he has been in touch with Asda since – but is unhappy with their complaints procedures.

An Asda spokesman said: “We would like to apologize and reassure Mr Fletcher-Retallick that as soon as this incident was brought to our attention an investigation was launched at the store to understand how his son was able to purchase this product despite our strength Age-Restricted Sales Policy.”

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