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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to ask you if you still need to produce I.D when purchasing alcohol?

84 replies

RebelFromTheWaistDown · 30/10/2011 17:36

I was asked for I.D. last night in Sainsbury's while attempting to purchase a bottle of gin to take to a party. As I had not had to produce I.D. since 5 years ago at the age of 36 I thought those days were gone.

The cashier explained that anyone who looked under the age of 25 had to produce I.D when purchasing alcohol. I had to ring my husband to bring my driving licence down as the cashier would not budge.

I was wondering how often does this happen to other people of my age. What can I do to make myself look older?

Disclaimer: this is a stealth boast Grin

OP posts:
workshy · 30/10/2011 23:14

I get asked for ID fairly frequently -I'm 33

usually it's when I've got my converse, skinny jeans and hoody on and I'm buying WKD lol

if i'm in my work clothes (suits) and buying wine I never get asked -strange Hmm

blackeyedsusan · 30/10/2011 23:26

I carry id .... on my face.... they're called wrinkles. I used to look young for my age, til i married. separating didn't help either.

Graciescotland · 30/10/2011 23:36

A bad moment for me was being asked for ID, being thirty I didn't have any with me. Apologised and cashier looked right at me and realised I was ancient said "Oh it's ok I ask everyone, sorry"

AnxiousElephant · 30/10/2011 23:44

No my crows feet laughter lines give the game away! Grin

somewherewest · 31/10/2011 05:16

I got ID'ed on the 25 rule and I'm 31. I was IDless and spent an incredibly irritating five or ten minutes convincing them of my age so that I could buy one flipping bottle of cider for a receipe. The 25 rule is completely OTT.

olibeansmummy · 31/10/2011 06:37

I get asked for ID all the time and find it really annoying that I can't just pop a bottle of wine/ beer for dh in the trolley when I'm shopping.

Every time I get to the age they ask for id, they put it up, I'm 25 now so expecting "challenge 30" any day...

I get challenge 21, but there's a huge difference between a 17 year old and 25 year old!

KatAndKit · 31/10/2011 07:18

I think the 25 thing is nuts. I am 33, I definitely don't look either 18 or 25. If I get asked it really pisses me off. It is a waste of time, especially if I don't have ID.
In any case the legal age is 18, not 25. Even without ID, I clearly am not 17 years old. They are at no risk of selling me alcohol underage so they are just wasting their time and mine if they ask me.

Whyriskit · 31/10/2011 08:14

I still get asked for ID occasionally but clearly my 2 DS's age me. Not quite the same, but when I was 30 and 8 months pregnant with DS1, we went to see the latest Harry Potter and the cashier sold me a child's ticket.

Ivette · 01/11/2011 21:48

always happens to me, always, always always fecking always!!! I am 24 but I guess look quite young especially without make up on lol

TastesLikeBraiiiins · 01/11/2011 22:04

Happens to me from time to time (am 34 :) ) and I don't mind at all, as long as I'm asked nicely - the old hag lady in Iceland who sneered at me 'ID?' is a voice that seemed to suggest she 'knew' I was too young last year (hahaha!) was not happy to have my DL handed over with a sarky smile from me.

BTW one of my best friends worked for sainsburys a supermarket and used to ID ladies he like the look of, so he could sneak a look at their addresses and hopefully strike up converstaions with anyone who lived near him. He's not a stalker, honest!

Minus273 · 01/11/2011 22:15

Some shops id everyone. I know of a 92 year old who got id'ed and they wouldn't accept her bus pass as proof of age.

perceptionreality · 01/11/2011 22:19

Yes, but most of the shops where I buy alcohol know that I have a nearly 10 year old so I don't have so much trouble now.

redpanda13 · 01/11/2011 22:23

I got asked for ID in Morrisons on my fortieth birthday. I actually thought it was a Jeremy Beadle style setup. Then realised very grumpy woman was serious. Showed her my driving licence and made a joke about it being my birthday and she had made my day. She snapped back about the challenge 25 rule.
I also got sold a child bus ticket as a pregnant 36 year old. Was worried about been driven by someone with such poor eyesight Smile

libelulle · 02/11/2011 06:20

Waitrose are esp bad IMO. Last time it was for small bottle of cooking cider in 80 quid shop. Im actually quite sensitive about it as Im often asked if I'm a student and never get taken seriously. I'm 34 and it gets quite wearing. What i also don't get is that usually I pay by credit card, so if they really think I'm under 18 they should be calling the police and getting me arrested for fraud.

BoysRusxxx · 02/11/2011 08:28

I still get asked for id. I am 27 but honestly look about 17! My mums friend and i were only talking about it the other day and she said she would never have thought i was older than 18. I have two young boys and a while ago i was chatting to a charity collecter and he asked me were the boys my little brothers!

If you look closely i do have lines beginning to show but im small and have a baby face so people think im younger :)

StealthPenguin · 02/11/2011 10:59

I'm 21, and get asked for ID everywhere I go, regardless of what I'm wearing...

...

...

including the time I went for a 15 film.

...

...

and also including a bus journey in which the driver thought I wanted a child ticket, and refused to believe I was 20 at the time...

Blush
Calabria · 02/11/2011 11:37

I've never had to produce ID for alcohol, or anything else for that matter.

When I was a teenager people thought I was in my twenties, now I'm much older than that people tell me I look much younger.

No stealth boasting here, just boasting Grin

Abcinthia · 02/11/2011 11:47

I'm 21 so get asked all the time.

As I don't have any photo ID (well no driving licence or passport. I have other ID with my photo, DOB and the official hologram but it's not accepted by most places), I only ever buy alcohol when I'm with DD doing a weekly shop. I go straight to the checkout workers who look like they won't challenge me or assume DD is my sister.

lordsugarslovechild · 02/11/2011 11:58

I'm 41 and get asked sometimes.

TheRealMrsHannigan · 02/11/2011 12:07

I am almost 27, a group of us went to an over 18's club for my friends 30th birthday, they lined all the women up and asked me for ID and let the others through, the lady who's birthday it was begged them to ask to see her ID. I was pmsl!

Yes ^ that is a boast, not a stealth one either.

I dont even attempt to buy alcohol without having ID with me, I just know it won't happen lol.

halcyondays · 02/11/2011 12:09

Ha, if only, I'm 33 and haven't been asked for years, although it's not that often I buy alcohol from the supermarket. They don't even hesitate:( although I'm sure they don't think I look a day over 26Wink

manicbmc · 02/11/2011 12:12

I got asked a few years ago when I was 40 but I think the cashier must have needed glasses.

I was most chuffed when out with the ex when I was about 35 - the barmaid thought I was his daughter. He's only 7 years older than me. Grin

I have the opposite problem now with dp (who is 32). When he is clean shaven and short haired he looks about 25.

notcitrus · 02/11/2011 12:18

I haven't been asked for age ID since I was 17, which is just as well as all my fake IDs got nicked just after I turned 18. Now 36.
Though I suspect sometime soon I'll start being told I'm not allowed alcohol as I might be buying it on ds's behalf (he's 3...)

SparklyGothKat · 02/11/2011 12:27

I get asked all the time, I'm 32. Laughed my head off when they asked DP for I'd the other week only for the cashier to say 'I'm asking both of you' Blush

CrystalQueen · 02/11/2011 13:06

I got IDed the other day in Tesco. I'm 34. I've always looked quite young, and I worry that one day it will suddenly all catch up and I'll age 20 years overnight.

I got my ears pierced aged 22. My flatmate came with me and the woman doing the piercing said that it was nice my mum had come with me. I don't know who was more mortified (flatmate was three months younger!).