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Original poster

Asked for ID in the supermarket - I'm 50!!

108 replies

Saisong · 21/09/2022 10:45

I felt strangely affronted, rather than taking it as a compliment!

The cashier was a male approaching 70 (he told me), maybe everyone looks young when you get to that age? 😆

OP posts:
GoingThatWay · 21/09/2022 21:41

JazbayGrapes · 21/09/2022 19:12

My Dad had an amazon delivery containing booze and had to produce ID. He was 71!! 😁

That's more likely to make sure the parcel wasn't stolen by a cheeky neighbour.

It's actually a legal requirement to prove that the person signing for the online delivery of alcohol is over 18, regardless of who answers the door.
Some companies will just input your d.o.b and signature, others will ask for proof.
And it's a ball ache if no one answers the door or can't prove their age 😠

JazbayGrapes · 21/09/2022 21:54

I wonder how well received it would be if someone walked into your workplace and started calling you an idiot for following your company policies? Or for following the terms imposed by outside authorities?

That's literally every customer service job Grin

NeckFanInSoftPlay · 21/09/2022 22:01

HoppingPavlova · 21/09/2022 11:10

He’d probably had a complaint against him. Not long ago there was a poster who was 30 odd, believed they looked like a young teenager and cracked it (complete with tantrum/wailing/attention seeking) as they were not asked for ID, offered it and were told it was not needed🤣. Can’t recall if they pursued it but complaint was mentioned at one point as they were convinced they should have been asked for ID.

😵 Cracked what? The sales assistant??

NeckFanInSoftPlay · 21/09/2022 22:02

Drivebye · 21/09/2022 11:56

If someone in a supermarket asked me for my id, I would ask them if they were joking. I would then ask to speak to the manager and make a complaint. I would then complain to the head office.

I know that it's important to check if if those that look under 25 however checking someone who is 40 plus is ridiculous, and a waste of everyones time. We wonder why so many young people can't seem to deal with life. Bloody stupid.

🙄

Hobnobswantshernameback · 22/09/2022 07:31

I swear the Queen would claim she'd been ID'd before they let her enter the vault on Mumsnet

Maireas · 22/09/2022 07:32

Hobnobswantshernameback · 22/09/2022 07:31

I swear the Queen would claim she'd been ID'd before they let her enter the vault on Mumsnet

😂😂😂
"Nobody ever believed I was 96! My skin was amazing and I drank loads of water...!"

Hobnobswantshernameback · 22/09/2022 07:35

😂😂😂

OneFrenchEgg · 22/09/2022 07:36

Sparklingbrook · 21/09/2022 13:10

Iceland do a percentage off for over 60s (I think on a Tuesday). I would not like to be an Iceland cashier having to do that age checking.

Omg they did that to me - I'm 47. I went home and cried. I was having a really tough time and the way it happened was so weird, I was just stunned.

SoupDragon · 22/09/2022 07:37

GoingThatWay · 21/09/2022 21:41

It's actually a legal requirement to prove that the person signing for the online delivery of alcohol is over 18, regardless of who answers the door.
Some companies will just input your d.o.b and signature, others will ask for proof.
And it's a ball ache if no one answers the door or can't prove their age 😠

Show quote history

DS2 has a job checking this - he has to order alcohol from Amazon and then report back as to whether they asked for age confirmation. Kept him in free alcohol throughout university.

TheBigCheeeeese · 22/09/2022 07:55

are you from the same ethnic group as the cashier . If not I would say it a case of discrimination. you know they all look the same if you cant tell a 18 from 50 year old .

JustLyra · 22/09/2022 09:48

There’s a shop here that has a “no ID, no booze” policy regardless of your age. The owner got fed up of people complaining if one of his staff asked for ID and they weren’t expecting it (there are a lot of test purchases round here because of a problem with teen drinking) so it’s now blanket policy.

even the people who steadfastly branded it ridiculous and they’d go elsewhere have relented and just carry ID. He has a system for people who do t have a passport or driving license.

One or two 5k fines would be enough to put a small place out of business so I don’t blame him.

HaveringWavering · 22/09/2022 09:52

Celestiel · 21/09/2022 12:04

Got ID'd with my last Morrisons delivery for a bottle of birthday fizz I'd ordered - my driving license is 10+ years out of date (can't afford to update it, and don't drive atm).

It was not accepted, and my birthday bottle went back to the van Angry the guy was very apologetic and did phone to check but really... I wasn't having a good day anyway but this just finished it!

That's nonsense. An out of date driving licence (or passport) is still proof of your date of birth. It only needs to be in date of you want to drive or travel. The company got the policy wrong.

HaveringWavering · 22/09/2022 09:55

Maverickess · 21/09/2022 13:16

I really wish people would actually do at least a bit of research around licensing before they start carrying on about challenge policies and how unfair it all is and how ridiculous staff are being. It's not a God given right to sell or buy alcohol.

To have and keep a license you have to meet certain conditions, they are based in law, but also around being a responsible retailer of alcohol.

There are hefty concequences for the seller and the retailer if those conditions are not adhered to, fines, license restrictions or removal, and ultimately you can be imprisoned if the law is broken, however the law doesn't have to be broken to break a license condition, nor to not convince the licencing authority, trading standards or the police that you're not a responsible retailer.
To that end retailers need to prove they're sticking to the licence and also a responsible retailer. To do that they need proof, an ID log of all purchases that have required ID - and no they don't simply take your word for it if it's empty and you tell them that no one in the last 6 months has needed ID because they were all over 45.

Trading standards and licencing also use 'mystery shoppers' as do retailers themselves (to catch out workers not adhering to policy before the authorities do) and you can fail on any of the conditions of your license and face concequences even if, once again for those who are hard of thinking no laws actually have to be broken, or even potentially broken.

Some places I've worked failing a test purchase is a disciplinary offence.

You can be as annoyed as you like, complain as much as you like, be superior and condescending towards the staff all day long - it will not change. And really, it's hardly the end of the world, in the grand scheme of things if you don't get a bottle of booze, it really isn't that big of a deal, and the reactions to it happening are ridiculously over the top and precious - like when people start talking about power and jobsworths 🤣 grow up, you're really not that important and there's no big conspiracy to keep people from their precious booze.

It's a licence, not a license.

Fizbosshoes · 22/09/2022 10:03

I'm 44 and I've been asked twice recently once in Waitrose and once in Co op. I think the Coop in particular are very zealous about it. I got id-d for a scratch card a few years ago. it always takes be by surprise as normally they come along (to self checkout) glance at you and just zap their lanyard to "approve" the purchase. A few times they've been loitering and I've wondered what they are waiting for....and then realise they want to see a form of id rather than just look at me. Usually the people that ask are older than me.

BearSoFair · 22/09/2022 10:31

One of DS1's friends got refused buying an energy drink because he had no ID...he's almost 30 with a full sleeve and neck tattoos and a beard ZZ Top would be proud of Grin

JazbayGrapes · 22/09/2022 10:35

There’s a shop here that has a “no ID, no booze” policy regardless of your age. The owner got fed up of people complaining if one of his staff asked for ID and they weren’t expecting it (there are a lot of test purchases round here because of a problem with teen drinking) so it’s now blanket policy.

Fair enough, unfortunately there isn't a blanket rule for all shops. Like there are no specific rules that every member of your family needs an ID or that you shouldn't take your kids shopping.

like when people start talking about power and jobsworths 🤣

but then you see the delight on their faces, that they have disrupted your day, caused you an inconvenience and then smirk "take it as a compliment". I'm kinda tempted to ask how old they'd think i was if i wanted to sleep with their 17yo son.

Johnnysgirl · 22/09/2022 10:38

HoppingPavlova · 21/09/2022 11:10

He’d probably had a complaint against him. Not long ago there was a poster who was 30 odd, believed they looked like a young teenager and cracked it (complete with tantrum/wailing/attention seeking) as they were not asked for ID, offered it and were told it was not needed🤣. Can’t recall if they pursued it but complaint was mentioned at one point as they were convinced they should have been asked for ID.

Christ alive! What a deluded idiot.

Sparklingbrook · 22/09/2022 10:52

OneFrenchEgg · 22/09/2022 07:36

Omg they did that to me - I'm 47. I went home and cried. I was having a really tough time and the way it happened was so weird, I was just stunned.

Show quote history

Oh no Sad Did they just give you the discount or something? What happened?

Discovereads · 22/09/2022 10:56

I’m skimming, so apologise if this has already been pointed out, but cashiers don’t get to choose everyone they ID. The till has a random pop up that requires the cashier to check ID to proceed with the purchase. Again, this is random. In addition to that, they are required to use judgement to ID anyone who looks underage. If you’re clearly of age or older and being asked for ID, it’s due to the till pop up, not the cashier complimenting or annoying you.

Sparklingbrook · 22/09/2022 11:00

The till has a random pop up that requires the cashier to check ID to proceed with the purchase. Again, this is random.

Is it random? Surely every purchase of alcohol/knives/painkillers/lottery/cigarettes/energy drinks etc will need an Id and the till knows which products need one.

OneFrenchEgg · 22/09/2022 11:06

@Sparklingbrook
I'd picked up some cider (it was an older chap serving) which I don't usually drink and made some light hearted crappy comment about it. He then put it through and said 'do you have some id' so I laughed (thinking he was joking about think 25 etc) and gave him my licence which he stared at for ages and then said no you don't qualify and then painstakingly explained the old age discount to me while I wanted to just curl up and die.
Then I shuffled home feeling like shit and cried at my reflection. It was just a bad time and I just didn't need someone to make me feel worse.

Maverickess · 22/09/2022 11:32

HaveringWavering · 22/09/2022 09:55

It's a licence, not a license.

Show quote history

Ooh what a valid point.

That's me told, maybe you should have returned it to me with red pen all over it or something? Just to really prove your superiority?

🙄

JustLyra · 22/09/2022 11:40

Sparklingbrook · 22/09/2022 11:00

The till has a random pop up that requires the cashier to check ID to proceed with the purchase. Again, this is random.

Is it random? Surely every purchase of alcohol/knives/painkillers/lottery/cigarettes/energy drinks etc will need an Id and the till knows which products need one.

The age check one pops up for every purchase. At least one chain also has a random compulsory ID check as well.

Maverickess · 22/09/2022 11:41

like when people start talking about power and jobsworths 🤣

but then you see the delight on their faces, that they have disrupted your day, caused you an inconvenience and then smirk "take it as a compliment". I'm kinda tempted to ask how old they'd think i was if i wanted to sleep with their 17yo son.

Some people really are deluded into thinking they're that important aren't they? You, or in fact any other customer isn't important enough to me to even consider ruining your day or causing you an inconvenience. I'm polite, I smile and I serve and if I've been told I need to I ID, or if I think I need to because I may break the policy, licence(just for you @HaveringWavering ) or law and I move on to the next, I'm not in the slightest bit interested in inconveniencing or disrupting you, nor inviting the almost inevitable condescending and patronising spiel you'll likely give me for daring to do my job.
That's just a cop out and an excuse to start being an arse because you don't like being asked for something by someone there to serve.

JustLyra · 22/09/2022 11:42

Fair enough, unfortunately there isn't a blanket rule for all shops. Like there are no specific rules that every member of your family needs an ID or that you shouldn't take your kids shopping.

I didn’t say there was…
Shops are fully entitled to ask for ID for age restricted purposes though. And once they’ve asked they have to see it.