When I first moved to Wimbledon I was overjoyed to discover the Alexandra pub. I thought it had everything: great food; wide range of ales and; a good ambience. Needless to say I began to frequent the pub and spent a large amount of money there.

However, one Saturday lunch time when I went to place an order I was informed by a rude and obnoxious member of staff that they did not accept provisional licences as a form of identification. When I told her that it had never previously been a problem she became increasingly obnoxious and pretentious.

This is not a rant about unfriendly bar staff but rather why the management would set a policy that turns away customers simply because they do not have a driving licence and do not want to carry their passport with them at all times. As a provisional licence is a legally valid form of identification it would appear that customers who decide that they do not want to learn how to drive are discriminated against.

In an age of austerity is appears to be an extraordinary act of self harm to refuse to serve people who are old enough to drink, are not causing any trouble in the pub and actually want to spend their money there. With many pubs being forced to close down and customers tightening their belts, the management of the Alexandra should be advised not to turn customers away. I am not aware of any other pub in Wimbledon with this policy and so the management should get in touch with reality and not refuse the custom of its locals.

Based on information supplied by .