Challenge 25?

[Notfeelingmeatall]

NC...

So, I'm under 25, but over the last couple of years, I've only been asked for ID when buying alcohol a handful of times. Prior to that, I was asked nearly constantly. I'm someone whose always looked a bit young for my age, but now I'm beginning to doubt if that remains true. I bought a bottle of wine at the self-serve checkout in the supermarket this afternoon, and the cashier took one glance at me and selected "do not challenge". That stung.

I'm not the only one, though. My partner (who is a year younger than me) does not get asked either, and I can say wholeheartedly that he does not look anywhere close to 25. More like 19-20! A couple of my other friends the same age as us rarely get asked, too.

Which leads me to wonder... is it really challenge bloody 25?! Because either the majority of those serving alcohol aren't following policy, or my friends and I must look like geriatrics. Especially makes me wonder when I hear stories of 30+ year olds claiming they still get asked.

What gives?

Shameless bump...

If the cashier thinks you look under 25 then they challenge you. It's thier responsibility. If they do not and are caught out by a mystery shopper or an undercover licencing agent then there will be repercussions for the store and the person holding the licence for that shift. The worst consequences are the store losing thier alcohol licence and the licence holder being fined, not something I want responsibility for.
It's not worth it to not challenge if there is any doubt but I guess as in every job some people don't bother as it's more work to put in all the details or maybe they are just terrible at judging ages😀 if they are caught out because they genuinrly couldnt be bothered to chalenge then they will probably regret it. But it's not easy to.judge someone's true age in a few seconds.

I.would always challenge as I don't want the repercussions at my work place.

You can't please everyone. People can get annoyed at being challenged and you are put out because you do look 25 to some people and aren't challenged. Maybe it's to do with the way you look, dress or act who knows? Maybe they just believe you are 25? You could always have i.d. to hand and offer it if you wanted to be challenged.😉

Geriatrics! Don't be daft. Would you say to a friend who is 26yrs old they look geriatric?

@Willow2017

That's exactly what I thought, hence why I'm surprised at the cashiers who don't challenge my partner and I, in particular. To put it into context, DP was recently questioned as to whether he was old enough to do a certain job by a number of people (think lorry driving).

Last week, we were asked for ID whilst doing the supermarket shop, and I didn't have mine with me (DP had his). I jovially said "I'm older than him!" and the cashier looked very doubtfully at me, and said "Are you sure...?". So from that reaction to a mere glance and "do not challenge" makes me

I know, I'm probably overthinking it. It just crushes my self-esteem when I'm not asked. Probably because I used to suffer with Body Dysmorphia, so doesn't take much to trigger it.

No advice, I'm just here to brag that I got asked for ID when buying cigarettes. I was 43! And had my 25 year old daughter with me! Didn't have ID with me, got the fags anyway...

I’ll go in next time dressed in jeans, a hoodie and sparkly trainers, then see what happens...

I’ll go in next time dressed in jeans, a hoodie and sparkly trainers, then see what happens

😀😀
Maybe you should ask at the shop why you are never challenged even when you point out you and dp aren't 25 see what they say. Maybe staff need a reminder in how serious the consequences are?

Challenge schemes are a condition of holding an alcohol licence. And you should have paperwork to back it up and show you're using it.
However, a lot of people think cashier's ID people for fun, or because we're on some sort of power trip, taking over the world one refused alcohol sale at a time.... And you get a lot of shit asking for ID, and told it's not the law to look over 25 so you've no right asking for ID, tell you they have children, "I'm twenty fucking six" - etc, etc. I guess if you can avoid getting that kind of abuse then you probably would. Not something I'd advise because no amount of hassle from a customer compares to getting disciplined, fined or even a criminal record if you get it wrong.
I'd say from experience you're definitely in the minority by being upset about not being ID'd. It may just be that the cashier's are so fed up with the abuse they're getting for IDing people, and if you look remotely passable for 25 then wing it. I know sometimes I do, I can tell they're over 18, but not 25 and technically I can argue that I haven't broken the law, probably wouldn't stop me getting a bollocking though and if it was found we weren't using our challenge scheme regularly, the licencing board could impose a sanction making us use a higher age one or other related sanction.
I wouldn't take it personally at all, come to where I work, I ID people a lot - I'll ID you 😁

I noticed when I was younger it came down to what I was buying, just alcohol in the evening they challenged whereas a full shop they never questioned. That said I was I'd in the USA at 47