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AIBU?

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Original poster

Challenge 25 in supermarkets

154 replies

KissMyFatArse · 13/05/2015 14:09

After school run nipped into well known supermarket for groceries needed for dinner and a couple of bottles of prosecco.

Will admit I was dressed casually and with no makeup but was asked for ID at checkout. After a rummage in bag I realised I didn't have my drivers license.

Manager called over and they both admitted that I was clearly over 18 but unsure if over 25, im 32!

If they can agree I'm above the legal age(and then some!) then why refuse to serve customers?

Aibu to assume if they're happy I'm well above 18 but unsure how close (or over!) 25 I am then they should still be able to serve you as the legal age is 18?.

Surely some common sense needs to applied.

OP posts:
bobs123 · 13/05/2015 14:44

I guess there's one benefit to being 50 + Grin

HopOnTheMonnerBus · 13/05/2015 14:44

When I'm serving it's not fear of breaking the law by serving to under 18s (I reckon I could accurately judge who is under 18) it's the fear of failing company policy and losing my job by serving to under 25s

It's the stupid companies' fears that has made it so difficult for everyone.

Dr0pThePirate · 13/05/2015 14:45

Yes I agree that the whole Think 25 has confused people but since they changed the law to fine and/or prosecute the actual seller rather than the store everyone has become a lot more paranoid.

I was once refused a sale even though I had ID as someone had seen me come into the store with DP who had gone outside to answer his phone. They said we both need to show ID (30 & 31 at the time). When I protested that I was buying it they argued that DP could be under 18 Hmm and basically told me to shove off! They were very peopled with themselves for refusing to sell to me.

RachelWatts · 13/05/2015 14:46

I get challenged in Sainsbury's and I'm 40.

Dr0pThePirate · 13/05/2015 14:46

Pleased

MrsJohnHarrison · 13/05/2015 14:47

Think 25 is to protect staff & premises. Not to piss you off. £5k personal fine? Criminal record? Lose my job? No thanks.
If you look under 25, you WILL be asked, if you are in a group of people who all appear to be of a similar age, everyone WILL be asked for ID.
The Lottery is 16, but think 25 is still applicable.

Think 25 is a scheme supported by the police, councils & the government.

If your supermarket/local shop/wherever miss-sell an age restricted product, they could lose their licence. And not be able to sell it at all.
The majority of checkout staff/cashiers have no intention of annoying customers, but I really wish some customers would just understand. I can't count the times I've been sworn at, shouted at and verbally abused for daring to ID people. One particularly lovely specimen took a swing at me too.
I wish it was like some places in America - if you want an age restricted product, you MUST have ID, regardless of age.

HoneyDragon · 13/05/2015 14:50

If they fail to "challenge" anyone who looks under 25, as a op said they lean lose pay and its a grievance procedure.

If you look under 25 and you wish to purchase things that you have to be over eighteen to purchase why is it unreasonable to expect people to have proof?

Dr0pThePirate · 13/05/2015 14:50

The other thing thats really confusing is the "full driving licence" thing.

Again I think this is store policy that says "full" but has lead a lot of people to think if you have a provision licence, regardless if it proves you're 20, 30 40 years old, then they can't sell to you as you as it's not a "full" licence.

You don't have to be able to drive to buy alcohol!

PoppyFleur · 13/05/2015 14:52

I never get challenged. Must wear more 'natural' looking makeup and trendier clothes when shopping.

(Misses point of thread entirely...)

SevTSnape · 13/05/2015 14:52

Please please please don't take it out on shop assistants or managers if they refuse to serve without ID, no matter how old you are. There are laws and store policies that they have to comply with.

The person who served the lottery ticket to the pp who challenged if she thought she really was under 15 should NOT have still sold you the ticket after asking for ID.

The manager and the shop assistant for OP should NOT have admitted they knew you were clearly over 18.

I once had a member of staff call me down because she had asked for ID from a customer and he didn't have any and was kicking off. If I had been serving him, I wouldn't have asked for ID, but at the time I was only 18 myself (I was a supervisor, that's why I was called down). I backed my member of staff up however and asked him to come back when he DID have ID. The way he acted though, in hindsight I don't think he could possibly have been old enough.

Staff members and managers are just doing they're job as they are told. Please don't take it out on them.

The thing is, if you don't have ID and they have asked, they have to fill in a form about the refusal, so it's a pita for them too. They're not just doing it for the lolz.

scribblegirl · 13/05/2015 14:53

I have to say, I usually don't mind being ID'd (makes me feel young!) but I was wildly pissed off when I was visiting my parents and picked up a bottle of whiskey for my dad - I was in the Waitrose near their home. I was served by a girl who was two years below me at school who refused to sell me the whiskey because I didn't have ID. I was 26 at the time. If I couldn't be served, she sure as heck couldn't be allowed to serve me!

Judydreamsofhorses · 13/05/2015 14:57

I was IDd twice in the course of a fortnight last month - I don't drive and don't carry my passport, so both times I left the shop without buying what I came in for. I was quite flattered - I'm 42 - but at the same time it was a massive pain.

TarkaTheOtter · 13/05/2015 14:57

They asked you for ID, you didn't have any. So they didn't serve you. sounds right to me. Once they ha asked for ID they are not allowed to change their mind and serve you.

I feel for retail staff. It's not always easy to judge someone's age quickly and they either get a hard time from a disgruntled customer or risk their jobs or worse.

Moltenpink · 13/05/2015 15:00

I hate it when it turns into a discussion about how old I look. ID me or don't, I don't mind, but comments on my appearance really annoy me!

One time I bought some wine, a shop assistant asked how old I was. "33" I replied. "23?????!!!!!!" Shock Shock Shock was her response! Well thanks a lot, if I look so much older than that, why did you ask!

PeppermintCrayon · 13/05/2015 15:10

Your fault for not having ID...

KatamariDamacy · 13/05/2015 15:11

I've been IDed twice recently (and I'm in my late thirties) and took it as a compliment. The most recent time, the woman on the checkout (who was clearly a fair bit younger than me) apologised profusely and explained she could lose her job if she got it wrong. She was only doing her job.

The USA have it right IMHO. Everyone gets IDed. Even if they're 90 years old. You want alcohol, you bring ID. Everyone knows it, no-one gets offended.

Chunkymonkey79 · 13/05/2015 15:12

It is ridiculous, 7 years over the legal age is a lot! It takes people by surprise when they are refused but the staff can't be blamed, they could lose their job for not following procedure.

I always used my common sense in jobs where i had to use Ch25. If they looked very young and there was a chance they were around 18 i was strict about it.
If it was very obvious they were way over 20 i would just serve. Anybody i was genuinely unsure of, i would request ID. I think some common sense should be applied. I never had any issues.

TooExtraImmatureCheddar · 13/05/2015 15:23

If it was absolutely standard to have to show ID, for everybody, then I wouldn't be so annoyed. It's the randomness of it that bugs me, plus the fact that if DH is with me it never happens.

Also, I don't think the odd bit of underage drinking is the end of the world - didn't we all do it? It feels like a sledgehammer to crack a very small nut. The teenagers who used to get their older friends/parents to buy them White Lightning will still do that, they'll just make sure they don't go into the shop with them!

vegplotter · 13/05/2015 15:36

I'm 40 next year and was denied some beer from Morrisons earlier this year (I don't have a driving licence). I was also once aged checked buying vanilla extract.

imwithspud · 13/05/2015 15:40

I understand your annoyance, but the staff are just trying to do their jobs and follow store policy. If they are found to be going against 'Challenge 25' then they risk a fine, a criminal record and losing their jobs over it. Try not to take it personally, I used to be a checkout operator and it's really difficult to judge peoples age in the few seconds/minutes it takes to put someone's shopping through.

Under age drinking isn't the end of the world no, but it's still illegal to buy and serve alcohol to under 18's and stores have to do something to try and prevent it from happening.

Original poster
KissMyFatArse · 13/05/2015 15:42

I agree it's the randomness and lack of consistency. This particular shop is used weekly by us, and never had a prob.

And yes I appreciate I should have Id with me but as I am 14yrs OLDER than the legal age limit I didn't think I would have an issue.

As they established I was clearly older than 18 so no law is being broken, apart from their internal rules. Which they will only review if people challenge it and point out how ridiculous it can be when all parties involved agree the customer is above legal age.

OP posts:
CurlyBlueberry · 13/05/2015 15:43

Once I got asked for ID in Tesco for a bottle of wine (along with risotto ingredients), no problem, I produced my (full) driving licence which is clearly me...

...and was refused as I was under 25!! (I was 19.) I argued and argued and got the manager out who backed up his staff member. I've never forgotten it and it still gives me the rage. If they thought it was fake or whatever (it wasn't!!) they should have just said instead of insisting the law says you must be 25 to buy a bloody bottle of wine.

Original poster
KissMyFatArse · 13/05/2015 15:48

Curly that made me GrinConfused you can't win!

OP posts:
Babiecakes11 · 13/05/2015 15:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

RolodexOfHate · 13/05/2015 15:59

Completely hypothetical question here.

Say I try and buy some alcohol, the shop challenges me and I've forgotten. I'm over 18, I know that, they probably know that too (forehead wrinkles Blush ) but still aren't willing to serve me.

I put down enough money to pay for the alcohol on the desk and walk out of the shop. Cashier hasn't technically charged me, and I haven't technically paid. But we have an informal(?) transaction.

Is this theft? Could the cashier get into trouble?

I ask because I once considered this desperate for the gin but it never came to it. I just rang my boyfriend and he queued again for me.