Supermarket Apologizes After Mistaking Disability for Drunk

When Brett Hanvey got pulled over by police right outside his Auckland home, he had no idea his local supermarket had reported him as a drunk driver.

Hanvey lives with superior canal dehiscence, a severe inner ear condition that affects his movement and balance. Some days he can't walk in a straight line, and his limbs move unpredictably.

On Monday afternoon, he was shopping at New World in Browns Bay when staff noticed his twitching and unsteady walking. Without asking him directly, they called police and reported a suspected drunk driver.

Police stopped Hanvey moments later in full view of his neighbors. After he explained his condition and passed a breathalyzer test with flying colors, officers let him go.

"I was shocked," Hanvey told Stuff. "I don't want people to look down their nose at me like I'm some sort of alcoholic that's just driving around."

The condition has forced Hanvey out of work for over a year, but this was the first time anyone had mistaken his disability for intoxication. His speech wasn't slurred, and he successfully completed his shopping and checkout without assistance.

The Bright Side

New World's parent company Foodstuffs responded quickly with a genuine apology. They acknowledged the team member meant well but caused real harm through misunderstanding.

The store owner offered to personally apologize to Hanvey and hear his full experience. More importantly, the company recognized the need for better disability awareness training across their locations.

"Our stores work hard to look out for the safety and wellbeing of their communities, but it's equally important that we treat every customer with care and respect," Foodstuffs said in their statement.

Hanvey agreed staff should intervene when they suspect drunk driving. He simply wants them trained to recognize the difference between intoxication and disability, especially when someone shows no other signs like slurred speech or confusion.

The embarrassing incident is now driving meaningful change that could help countless other disabled shoppers feel safer and more respected in their communities.