To Want to Complain(& to think DH handled this like a wuss]

[RockinHippy]

Or am I over reacting because DD is already having a really tough time & just didn't need this upset too

As her 12th birthday treat DD wanted a day of shopping with her best friend, including a meal in her favourite pizza place & then onto the cinema.

Sadly due to health problems, they were both too exhausted & overwhelmed by shopping in town on a Saturday - so they skipped the meal & headed home to chill out to recharge for the cinema instead (bizarrely not only do they share a less than common name, they both share the same health condition, which includes CFS & anxiety as symptoms :( )

They are both very sensible, mature 12 yr olds, who look & act older

On proudly arriving at the cinema to see a 12A film on their own, they were refused entry & told they need proof of age - nothing on the cinemas website or notice board says proof of age needed for a 12A, (only 15 & 18 - which is fair enough) SM was quite happy to take their money for over priced popcorn & drinks though, but not for cinema tickets

DD rang us, obviously upset & embarrassed to be stopped in front of a queue full of teens & preteens, but holding it together & acting maturely.

DH ran down to the cinema with her passport - that not only proved her age, but clearly showed it was her birthday - he told the staff member that it was DDs birthday & that they were both 12 & had parents permission to be there on their own.

Staff member was having none of it, refusing because he only had ID for one of the girls - DH said SM was polite & Young & he thought she might just be new & over zealous, so he didn't want to make a big fuss, but this SM refused point blank to back down no matter what DH said.

Though unfortunately DDs friend got so flustered that she accidentally gave her wrong month of birth, making her a week under 12, she corrected this, but SM refused to believe & insisted that they could only go in, if DH went in with them - At this point I would have been discretely demanding to see the manager - DH sadly didn't want to make any further fuss because the SM was polite & "sorry"

This ended up with DD running off to hide her tears as she was so upset & humiliated - on her birthday! :(

DH ended up having to go in with them - even more annoying, as I was at home just finishing off cooking a meal for us both

AIBU in thinking this was a bloody ridiculously Jobsworth thing to do & on DH arriving with passport the SM should have just backed down & apologised & to want to make a formal complaint?

TIA

I was out drinking at 14 but by 20 had to take ID out because places were clamping down, im 36. I had a friend who took his passport to the cinima to prove he was still a child!

At 21 I had a 5 year old, I was still asked for ID occasionally at co op

And I agree with Sir

I really don't think the overzeakous IDing of everyone in every imaginable situation does anything to keep young people safe (or anyone else fir that matter). It doesn't stop underage drinking or unsafe behaviour. It may just encourage the young people into even worse situations than they might otherwise have been in.

I'd have gotten into stupid situations as a teenager because I was an idiot and my idiot parents didn't do anything to stop me. Being turned down in a pub or not getting into a club at 15, just meant that we went to the even dodgier pub that served anyone. Doubtless if no pub would have served us, some dodgy bloke would have helped us out at the offie and I dread to think what else.

All the overzealous IDing and ludicrously draconian punishment regime imposed on poor cashiers (etc) to enforce it does is piss off middle aged people who haven't got any ID on them. I'm pretty sure it all started when the government were desperate to get us on board with everyone carrying compulsory ID cards (an ill-fated venture).

Im 30 and im always being asked for id, must have a baby face!
I went to the us when i was 12 and my dad got id. He was really shocked!he was in his 40's!

Both my local cinemas have validate youth ID forms on there ticket desks. The cards do exist, they used to be free no idea if they are now but still saves the bother surely?

Yes the only time I got properly drunk in an evening was when the pub by the village hall changed owners and got huffy.

We just sent in a older mate for a bootle of woodpecker (as pub also=village off licence) and drank 1/2 it each.