to think the Saunburys checkout lady shouldn't have told me I look like I could have had my children at 13?

[CarriedAwayAnnie]

I am 32 in 2 months. I would like to tell myself I look like a young 20 something but the truth is sleepless nights and the general stress of children has taken it's toll.

I was buying alcohol through self service and she refused to allow the transaction as she said I looked under 25. I would have been flattered if it weren't so ridiculous. I haven't been ID in years.

I explained that I had my 6yr old with me so it was unlikely I was under 18 and she said I looked the sort who would have their children at 13.

I was incensed so asked for a manager. Manager agreed I didn't look under 25 but said he couldn't overrule a colleague. I asked him for a form to complain about the comment his collegeue had made but he said there are no forms to complain.

So I asked for the store manager who told me I could complain through the careline. I asked the manager why he hadn't told me this and he was very insolent, he just stood there looking sulky and shrugging my shoulders.

The store manager then said I couldn't buy my shopping. So I felt as if I was being asked to leave the store without purchasing anything. To be clear, I hadn't been rude or aggressive. It was as if they knew the policy was daft and wanted me out.

But instead of leaving I went back round, picked up the same alcohol and purchased it through a different till with no problems. Surely this shows a fundamental flaw in their Think 25 policy.

AIBU to think that when I am stood there with my wrinkles and my 3yo and a 6yo and a manager and the store manager agree I look over 25, I should be allowed to purchase alcohol? How can a collegeue overrule a store manager?

People that can't tell the difference between a 17yo and a 31yo need to be put on trolley duty until their common sense returns.

I'm actually starting to feel sorry for managers for having to work within such daft rules.

Esp if you've got a wally like the woman today working on their department.

Seems op isn't interested in people loosing job in such a tight economy where jobs are scarce! U got I'd so what? Least she asked and felt her job is worthy! Get over yourself

To repeat the point once again:

She would have only lost her job if I was 17.

I do not look 17.

She wasn't in danger of losing her job. She knew she wasn't in danger of losing her job because I do not look 17 .

no the manager wont over rule,if it turns out the person was under 18 its not them that would ge the fine,its the person on the till that would! you are taught in training that if you dont think the person is old enough or cant show id you will be backed up no matter what! even if the manager thinks your wrong.
on our tills it comes up what dob should be so working out if they should be 18 to match id is easy,ALL stores have the same think 25,no matter where you shop,if you take offence at it carry id then it wont happen,my sons friend got served an 18 game the other day even tho shes 15 i spoke to the person in charge of that deptment at work,he asked if i thought she looked over 18,to me no but then i have kids the same age but to another colleague she may have looked old enough but no way 25 so she should have been id`d thats the whole poing of think 25.

UK 2013

The serious message is this is why I find it sinister that we now have to produce ID to buy a few lagers.

I repeat my point; I think the comment was really funny.

She didn't even want to hear my D.O.B.

yes, we know she wouldn't have lost her job, because yes, as you keep pointing out, you are 32, but she is trained to ID anyone who might be under 25. i don't understand the big fuss. you got ID'd? so what! lots of people get ID'd when they're clearly above age, most people laugh it off and find it flattering, not get in a huff.

What good would you telling her your DOB do if you don't have the ID to prove it?

lots of people get ID'd when they're clearly above age

Why do they?

Why do they get ID'd when they are clearly above age?

Can't you see how ridiculous that is?

Mind you, the second cashier, in the same shop, that sold me the alcohol 5 mins later, didn't want my D.O.B either.

Because he employed his common sense and realised I didn't look 17.

"People that can't tell the difference between a 17yo and a 31yo need to be put on trolley duty until their common sense returns."
So that would be me, then? Oh, do fuck off.

YANBU to be offended by her comment that you looked 'the type'. YABVU to be offensive to those of us honest enough to admit we're not sure about what age the person standing in front of us is.

The annoying thing for me is half the time I'm trying to buy Alcohol free pear cider.

I don't see why they can't use a bit of common sense, clearly they're not going to get fined for selling me something that contains no alcohol yet I have been refused it because I have no ID - bonkers

because you also have mystery shoppers and you get marked on asking for id,you dont know who they are so you just ask,the poor girl thought you looked under 25,thats all yes she shouldnt have been rude and i would be more pissed off at that than being idd! iding is her JOB being rude isnt.

1 persons view to how old someone looks is different to someone else,just saying dob wont cut it,you need id end of the day she was doing her job.

She was an idiot. No one has the right to be rude like that. You have a perfect right to be upset as they stopped you getting your shopping and insulted you! Dont listen to the people telling you to relax, people shouldnt get bullied when they are trying to purchase things from shops. Do they want the service or not?! Kick up a fuss please. If this happened to me Id do the same. I look young for my age and if anyone talked to me like that in front of my children then I would be livid.

Being told you look young is usually a compliment but sometimes people can use it to belittle you which is not right.

OP just have a think beyond your 'lagers for your DH' and have a think why these policies of wanting ID are in place .

As others have said it is subjective whether you look over 25 or not.

Move on - its getting a bit silly now.

no-one is saying she shouldnt complain,op is making such a fuss about being asked for ID rather than the rude comment.

In my place of work we have think 21, if you look under 21 you need to prove that you are 18 to buy age restricted items.

If I were to sell a knife to a 17yo, and that 17yo went on to stab someone and kill them I could be culpable. Added to this a £5000 fine and job loss.

Local councils do test purchases, to make sure store are complying with the law. One member of staff lost their job and the duty manager severely reprimanded because they failed a council test purchase (the duty manager wasn't even on the same floor).

I am 27 and get id'd every time I but an age restricted product. However I don't whine about it as I realise that the person serving has a job to do.

The checkout lady was rude but still had the right to ask for ID .

Everyone can tell the difference between a 17yo and a 31yo.

Everyone.

Clearly not ...

no not everyone does,i got id`d at a bar even tho 10 mins earlier the same person served me,its one of those things

Hypothetically speaking .... If any of your dd was underage and bought alcohol and wAs not id'd .... As a parent who is the first person you'd blame!? The shop assistance! Dammed if u do dammed if u don't

It's not about guessing the correct age of a customer, yes there is a difference between 17 and 31 but that isn't the point. The point is that the cashier asked you to prove you were over 18 because at that time she/he thought you looked under 25.