Tesco Apologises After Muslim Worker Refuses to Serve Woman Buying Ham and Alcohol

The Tesco supermarket chain has apologised after a Muslim staff member refused to serve a customer because he said it was Ramadan. The devout cashier said he could not touch the ham and wine as it was forbidden.

When the customer, Julie Cottle, complained to the manager, he initially supported the worker’s right to refuse to serve her. The chain has now apologised, however, and said that the worker had been “spoken to”.

Miss Cottle told the Daily Mail that she was furious about the way she was treated: “He pointed at the ham and wine in my basket and said ‘I can’t serve you that because I’m fasting’.”

“When I told him he should be serving customers not turning them away he still refused, telling me to go to the self-service.

“I know he has his beliefs – I’m a Christian myself – but he should be able to do his job properly. I’m disgusted. If he is refusing to do his job he shouldn’t be there.”

She became angry and asked to see the manager, although this made little difference.

“I started shouting and he went to the back of the shop. I asked to see the manager. He was a temporary manager and he said I had to use the self-service.

“I was furious so when I got home I rang Tesco customer service to complain.

“All they said was ‘that does not sound right but if it is ok with the manager that’s ok’.”

The supermarket chain has since apologised to Miss Cottle, with a spokesman adding that they have spoken to the worker.

“We’re here to serve our customers the products they choose to buy,” the spokesman said. “We don’t have a specific policy and take a pragmatic approach if a colleague raises concerns about a job they have been asked to do.

“We apologise to our customer for any inconvenience on this occasion.”

During the holy month of Ramadan, Muslims do not eat or drink between dawn and dusk. Although observing the month is considered one of the Five Pillars of Islam – a teaching central to the faith – it is very unusual for a British Muslim to refuse to serve someone while fasting.