Tesco shocks shoppers with 'back to school' display filled with alcohol

A shopper in Kent was left stunned in a Tescosupermarket after spotting a back to schooldisplay packed with boxes of alcohol.

Amanda Wilkie noticed the shelves filled with brands like Madri, Fosters, Corona, and Guinness, sitting underneath a sign that read “Back to school ready”. The 49-year-old has two grown-up children and said that she remembers the stress of the summer holidays coming to an end.

From school uniform shopping to shoe fitting and stationary hauls, the back-to-school seasoncan prove hectic for parents across the country. Amanda said: “I wasn’t sure if the display was for the kids or the parents.”

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She added: “I did a slight double take at first. Then once I realised, yes, it was a back to school banner displayed over cases of beer and cider, it highly amused me. I thought it would amuse parents.”

Amanda said she can “definitely relate to why parents would possibly need a drink by the end of the holidays”, telling What’s the Jam: “It’s hard work entertaining kids for six weeks.”

She said: “My children are grown up and way past school age. But I can still vividly remember both the nightmare of back to school shopping and how I felt at the end of having had the kids at home for six weeks.”

Tesco told The Mirror that the digital banner was advertising laundry products, and the photo was just a snapshot of one of the video adverts played. A spokesperson said: “We’re really sorry that this digital banner advertising laundry products as part of our Back to School campaign appeared over the wrong products in our Gillingham Kent Extra store. It has now been removed.”

This isn’t the first time Tesco placed alcohol under a “back to school” banner. In 2013 the supermarket was spotted selling booze underneath a school sign instead of stationary and uniform at a Swansea store. Tesco said at the time that the photo was taken as the display was being restocked.

Earlier this year, Tesco announced that it would be committing to holding its 2024 prices for school uniform prices that were sold last year. Uniform prices start at £3 for a pack of two polo shirts, and all the stationary comes in at under £5, the supermarket said.

For the first time, Tesco also made uniforms available online, as well as items like backpacks, stationary, lunchboxes and accessories. It said: “So, whether it’s part of your weekly food shop or a dedicated “back to school” mission, you can now choose whether you want to do it in person or from the comfort of your sofa.”

For 63% of mums and dads, the return to school in September is the most stressful time of the year, according to a poll by Pod, the EV charging provider. More than half said they have left lunchboxes at home after the summer holidays, while 40% have taken their child’s bag back home with them, and 31% forgot to charge or refuel their car before heading off on the school run.