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Original poster

I got refused service today

145 replies

snowdropsandcrocuses · 15/01/2022 20:16

I am in my early 40's. I have 2 kids and my body shows it. My face is red with broken capillaries and my hair is in desperate need of dying so my greying roots are very much visible. I am definitely no oil painting!

Today I went to buy cigarettes and I was asked for ID. I honestly swear I haven't been asked for ID since I was about 19!

I had my work ID on me which I could have used but I was so absolutely stunned that I looked slack jawed at the cashier and simply said 'no I don't have ID...because I'm 40!'

She told me I don't look over 25 with my mask on and I laughed at her and left the store without being served.

So I've decided the fact I have cleansed, toned, moisturised, used retinol and vit c serum for at least three days in a row is absolutely working

Clearly I have found the elixir of youth in a bottle. Happy to offer up my secrets to you all... Grin

OP posts:
GirlInACountrySong · 15/01/2022 21:32

@Justkeeppedaling

DD, 26, tried to buy paracetamol at Sainsbury's a while back. They wouldn't let her buy it because she didn't have ID with her. DH was waiting in the car, so she went back in with him. They wouldn't sell it to him either, because he might give it to DD. He pointed out that she was the one with the headache and the packet clearly states it's for 12+, but they wouldn't sell it to him!
they did the right thing!
longtompot · 15/01/2022 21:33

When I was younger, after years (around age 15) of buying cheapo cider from the local shop I got IDd there whilst buying fags when I was 18!
The next time I was IDd was when I was 40 buying an M&S meal deal. The man on the till had to call someone over, a sensible lady, who said, yes, she looks over 25! Feckin crazy!

crochetmonkey74 · 15/01/2022 21:34

I'm going to say something controversial here everyone.
It has happened to me too and theres NO way I look young.
I think we all just got served by very thick people 😁

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Beauty
RobotValkyrie · 15/01/2022 21:36

@Nisse23

Last time I visited the U.K. I only had my EU country ID on me - which does have a DOB. I’m 30. I went to Waitrose and was refused service because I needed ‘English ID’ to he served. I tried challenging her by saying I live abroad, so of course I wouldn’t have a U.K. ID, and mine had a perfectly recognisable date of birth on it, but she insisted it was a U.K. driving license or passport, or nothing. I had to just walk out. It was super embarrassing. This was before face masks.
So that Waitrose wouldn't sell booze to foreign tourists? Sounds hard to believe this would be the store's actual policy, sounds more like that overzealous member of staff was in serious need of training.
RedCandyApple · 15/01/2022 21:36

I don’t think I look young either, some people just ask everyone to cover their backs, I went into Asda 2 days later and was served just fine

MananaTomorrow · 15/01/2022 21:37

@Justkeeppedaling

DD, 26, tried to buy paracetamol at Sainsbury's a while back. They wouldn't let her buy it because she didn't have ID with her. DH was waiting in the car, so she went back in with him. They wouldn't sell it to him either, because he might give it to DD. He pointed out that she was the one with the headache and the packet clearly states it's for 12+, but they wouldn't sell it to him!
They also stoped someone getting medication they needed

I wasn’t aware there was an age limit for paracetamol. Alcohol yes, knifes yes, but paracetamol?? For one packet, not 10 (that they can’t seem anyway)?

Lougle · 15/01/2022 21:38

I bought a bottle of wine a few weeks ago. I had my 12 year old daughter with me (admittedly, she's fairly tall at 5'5½"). The self-checkout supervisor said that he was technically meant to ask for ID for both of us but he wouldn't as it was Christmas. I don't drink anyway - it was a present.

Cherryana · 15/01/2022 21:38

I am 43 but must be giving out young vibes because I got id'd in Sainsbury's not long ago.

Then last month, some students I taught for the first time said they thought I was 27 and when I was in hospital the nurse said she thought I was 19!

I think in the right light I could pass for late 30's and in the morning I think 'who is that old woman in the mirror'!!

OhWhatFuckeryIsThisNow · 15/01/2022 21:41

I was with my work mate, but shopping separately.I’m early 60s, she’s a young looking, but still well over 30, looking forties. I got refused as I was “buying alcohol for her”.(it really wasn’t) Neither of us had id, but my son (30) who worked there, said “that’s my mum and that’s my ex teacher” She was well chuffed though.

The4ks · 15/01/2022 21:47

This EXACT same thing happened to me today (also early 40s)
Although when I took my mask down to show my face the cashier said 'oh ok then'!!
Brought me right back down to earth haha!

MinnieJackson · 15/01/2022 21:48

I was buying alcohol a while ago in Morrison's self service checkout. I was prepared for an ID check as it's happened before, but I don't actually have any ID. Don't drive, provisional expired ages ago, passport not been updated since I was about 13.
A really nice lady came over and asked for ID, I said I didn't have any but said 'look! Look! I'm 32 I promise!' And frowned and my frown lined stayed. She nodded and said 'ahh yeah' really sympathetically and put the sale through Blush

DramaAlpaca · 15/01/2022 21:54

I got asked for ID in a local shop a few years back at the vast age of 51 or so. I was amused and not so secretly quite chuffed.

I went home and oh-so-casually mentioned it to my son. My smug bubble was soundly burst when son replied 'oh that's John, he asks everyone' Grin

blimeymcblimey · 15/01/2022 21:57

I'm in my 50's, but the same thing happened to me in Asda..I just pulled down my mask, and that was proof enough. Grin

KO81 · 15/01/2022 21:59

Oh ace! I’ve just started on vit c and retinol! Can’t wait to be IDd!

GirlInACountrySong · 15/01/2022 22:01

@crochetmonkey74

I'm going to say something controversial here everyone. It has happened to me too and theres NO way I look young. I think we all just got served by very thick people 😁
ugh!! vile comment

people who serve you can be prosecuted and lose their job if they are caught....police and trading standards routinely send in test purchasers to try and catch staff out

they are NOT 'thick'.

HelloFrostyMorning · 15/01/2022 22:01

Yeah this tends to happen to many people even up to the age of 60. Being asked for I.D. to prove you're over 25.

Only on mumsnet though. Grin

GirlInACountrySong · 15/01/2022 22:02

@crochetmonkey74

I'm going to say something controversial here everyone. It has happened to me too and theres NO way I look young. I think we all just got served by very thick people 😁
and your comment is not controversial by the way,just lame. and ignorant
Thatsplentyjack · 15/01/2022 22:02

I'm jealous. I'm nearly 32, I wouldn't say I look that old but no one EVER asks me for ID anymore, even for Alcohol! At the self checkout they always just press "visibly over 25" and everytime I die inside a little.

StyxBankDweller · 15/01/2022 22:04

WHY is it not acceptable to look one's age? For our years of lived experience that shows in our faces to be scorned? There's an industry worth billions that only exists because we've learned to hate our reality.

DappledThings · 15/01/2022 22:06

@pointythings

That's hilarious!

I've never been ID'd, but my late husband was ID'd in Disney in Florida when getting a beer. He was 53 at the time and told the bartender she was on his Christmas card list forever (he had ID on him).

They can be ridiculous about it in the states though. At a baseball game when I was 30 I was asked for ID which I was expecting but it was such a cursory glance there was no way she could have actually found my DoB let alone read it and calculated it.

The woman behind me was also asked for ID. She was in a wheelchair that had "Happy 90th Birthday" balloons attached to it. She was also wearing a badge proclaiming her 90th birthday.

Yebbie · 15/01/2022 22:07

I got ID'ed for tea spoons when I was heavily pregnant. Tea spoons!!!

San141 · 15/01/2022 22:08

I was asked for id for cigs(when it was 16) when I had my daughter with me (21) then my favourite was I was 34 and got asked when I was buying alcohol free beer!!

Reallycantbesarsed · 15/01/2022 22:10

I am mid 50s and would be absolutely thrilled if I was asked for ID …it really isn’t going to happen again 😢

Stevie6 · 15/01/2022 22:12

@MananaTomorrow you have to be 16 to buy paracetamol/ibuprofen

CharityDingle · 15/01/2022 22:14

ugh!! vile comment

people who serve you can be prosecuted and lose their job if they are caught....police and trading standards routinely send in test purchasers to try and catch staff out

Exactly.

Also, not to burst anyone's bubble, but, a lot of young staff taken on over the past two years, would not be able to easily figure out someone's age, at a glance, ime.

So, they have to play safe.