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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:
LaLyra · 13/05/2015 15:59

The little shop where I live has an "ID everyone" policy. They say they'd be put out of business by the fine. There's something very amusing about seeing a couple of elderly ladies from the sheltered housing complex along the road giggling about being ID'd to buy their sherry.

As annoying as it is I think it's fair enough that once they ask they must refuse if no ID is shown.

RolodexOfHate · 13/05/2015 16:00

Forgotten my ID that should say.

Mousefinkle · 13/05/2015 16:02

I went into a supermarket with my younger brother once when he was about 14 so I'd have been 20. They wouldn't serve me because he couldn't show ID even though I did Hmm. Apparently it was because I could have been buying the alcohol for him. I challenged it by saying "what if I were a mother in here with my teenage child, would you refuse to serve the mum because she could have been buying it for her child?" Still wouldn't serve me. Ridiculous.

The challenge 25 thing is utterly ridiculous. You have to be over 18 to drink but look over 25 to buy it without being asked for ID Confused. Surely you should just have to look over 18 ffs...

Gileswithachainsaw · 13/05/2015 16:07

But everyone's idea of 18 is different. It's far easier to pass for 18 at 16 than it would be to pass for 25.

This is to.protect your children. alcohol is responsible for so many people being hurt or killed. It's not about making it difficult for you.

It's to prevent young teens getting easy access to booze and the damage to their bodies

ethelb · 13/05/2015 16:20

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!

^^ This. I do wonder how many people here who are defending this actually get ID'ed. I am 28 and I can't remember the last time I wasn't ID'ed. I have been ID'ed for non-alcoholic beer and I have had staff be utterly beligerant when I questioned them. Incredibly rude.

I have also had people argue over how old I look infront of me, making quite personal remarks. It is incredibly rude. They were shocked when I walked out of the pub after they started 'guessing' how old I was with other members of staff.

I used to be quite supportive having worked in retail and been very aware of stupid rules/policies etc and just how little a person serving you can do about that. That said, the policy essentially opens up people to discrimination based on their appearance (I think height has an awful lot to do with it too) and the person serving you's perception of that. Which is really, really unfair.

I would like to know how often it happens to women compared to men, as I wonder if it happens to women more as it is ok for society to scrutinise their appearance. But I doubt any data is collected on this.

Gileswithachainsaw · 13/05/2015 16:21

When you sell age restricted products you have something called a social responsibility. It's not just about the age of the person by in it. We also have a responsibility to ensure that its not going to be indulged or consumed by people who are underage or that it is being purchased by a vulnerable person talked into buying it for people pretending to be their friend.

that's why whole groups will be asked. tats why if kids are with you questions will be asked.

It's why there are sometimes limits as to amounts able to be purchased.

greenbanana · 13/05/2015 16:27

I don't mind being IDd, it's their job and I get it.

Have had similar experiences to pp though with over zealous staff. I got asked for ID for a disney DVD (U rating) because the computer said so. I had ID but refused to show her because I wanted to see if she'd go so far as to call her manager. She did - the look he gave her was priceless.

I also had someone ask for ID, then take a better look at me and go 'oh, never mind' which was a bit annoying (maybe I looked too pleased - I'm 33).

muminhants · 13/05/2015 16:27

I'd be flattered to be asked to show ID myself but what I find really annoying is queuing up at the wrong till to buy alcohol because the person on the till is under 18. And there's never a supervisor nearby so you have to hang around for ages.

WHY don't supermarkets have tills for alcohol and/or get the staff to wear badges that say they are under 18 so that people know to go to a different till?

avocadotoast · 13/05/2015 16:30

Is there a limit as to ID being asked for when people have kids with them? As in, I've heard of people being refused alcohol when they've had teenagers with them, but where is the cut off? If the child is 12? 15? 9?

My favourite was when I went in a shop to buy a bottle of wine for my mum (to be fair I was about 20, so still fair cop to be asked for ID). I dutifully handed my passport over (in which the picture was about 6 years old, and I was a teenage goth) and the cashier just looked at me and went "well, I can't tell if that's you" and wouldn't serve me! I ended up having to get the manager over for them to use their discretion. (They did agree it was me and I did get the wine in the end...)

justbloodygreat · 13/05/2015 16:40

I get challenged every time in Tesco and I'm 36. It used to annoy me when I was younger, but I'm flattered by it now.

alleypalley · 13/05/2015 16:44

My (43 yr old) dh was once refused alcohol as they didn't recognise his ID, as he doesn't have a driving licence. His form of ID was his licence to sell alcohol!

Once they have asked for ID they are not allowed to change their mind and serve you. Not true btw

Malenky · 13/05/2015 16:45

As an employee in a shop which has to sell age restricted products, I always ask the person if they are over 18 or not before asking for ID. I do this because if it's a police or Trading Standards check, the person isn't allowed to lie, and will have to say no. That way I know that if someone has said yes, even if they're lying, at least they're not the police, so sometimes I press for the ID and sometimes I use my discretion. I ask absolutely everybody if they are overage though as little 90 year old men get a giggle out of it and young people are given a chance to tell me the truth.

Gileswithachainsaw · 13/05/2015 16:46

alley

only some forms of ID are accepted. There will be a designated list usually passport, driving/ provisional license, military ID, and maybe a citizen card

those are recognised documents that staff will have been briefed on.

TooExtraImmatureCheddar · 13/05/2015 17:35

CurlyBlueberry, I once tried to buy wine in a Peckham's standing next to the sign that said they would only serve alcohol to over-21s. The cashier asked if I had ID, "oh yes," says I, "here, I'm 20." I was so so utterly confused when she still said no! And I was refused entrance to a pub the week after I turned 18 even though I had ID "because you look so young we could get into trouble".

Purplehonesty · 13/05/2015 17:43

It is annoying. Especially as I am accompanied by a 5yo going mum mum mum. Do they think I had him at 13? I often have to send dh in for wine or get him to buy it.
Well actually not so much now...how depressing!

AugustRose · 13/05/2015 17:46

It's annoying when you are quite clearly over 25 as DH was last year when he was asked if he was over 25 in Sainsbury's. He was flattered briefly then confused as he was buying 0% alcoholic beer - the cashier said because it was in the alcohol aisle they still had to check for ID Confused

wheresthelight · 13/05/2015 17:56

the ruling isn't self imposed by the supermarkets! it is policy issued by trading standards and the cashier serving you cam be fined £1000 and sacked for failing to ask if they suspect you are under 25. my mum works as a u ion rep in one of the "big 3" and has had to sit in on many disciplinary hearings regarding this.

op you were unreasonable and actually quite childish to storm off leaving your shopping because at the end of the day the cashier was doing her job. the rule is if they don't think you look 25 they have to ask for I'd and once asked they are not legally allowed to sell the item to you until you have produced Id. she did nothing wrong

avocadotoast · 13/05/2015 18:20

DH got asked for ID when he was buying a crate of lemon San Pellegrino. He had to explain to the cashier that it was lemonade. Even had to get her to read the ingredients Grin

Original poster
KissMyFatArse · 13/05/2015 18:29

Whereis they were all happy I was above the LEGAL limit so why then push because they couldn't establish what side of 25 im on?

This is clearly an issue elsewhere with other posters so the only way supermarkets will take notice of this ridiculous ruling and whoever else implemented it is through forums and discussions and dare I say, people acting with their feet and walking out when they are clearly being over the top.

I have worked in a supermarket and have worked in bars and know fine well how the age limit is important.

However, things won't change unless people stand up and highlight how over the top or ridiculous these things are.

This particular store has served me on hundreds on occasions, so it doesn't seem to be STORE policy, more like individual opinion.

Which leaves it wide open.

If the store bothered to check my store card they could confirm how many times they've served me said alcohol before...

OP posts:
MagentaVitus · 13/05/2015 18:34

Bet it was tesco. Tesco are notoriously stupid when it comes to this.

One time, I was in the checkout, and I saw a 23 year old ex-colleague that I hadn't seen for a while. Stopped for a chat, as you do.

The cashier then refused to serve me without IDing my friend!! We were not together! I had to wander around the store to find her.

namechange0dq8 · 13/05/2015 18:34

We also have a responsibility to ensure that its not going to be indulged or consumed by people who are underage

It's entirely legal for parents to give alcohol to children over five, subject to some caveats that aren't relevant to shops. I was once given this crap whenb buying wine while my children, then early teens, was with me. They made some noise about refusing to sell it to me (obviously late forties) on the grounds that I might be buying for the teenager I had with me. I pointed out that it was perfectly legal for me to buy alcohol for the sole purpose of serving it to my child if I so wished, and they rolled their eyes and took my money.

Shops should stop making law up as they go along.

wheresthelight · 13/05/2015 18:39

the trading standard rule is to challenge anyone who looks under 25 and the cashier can be fined £1000 and the store upwards of £5000 which many pass on to the staff therefore whether or not they felt you looked over 18 is utterly irrelevant and frankly stamping your feet and acting like a petulant child is hardly going to endear them to your cause.

it doesn't matter whether none of the other staff in the shop think you look over 25. if the person serving you doesn't then they are legally obliged to ask for id and if you cannot produce it then whether you are 18 or 118 they cannot legally serve you.

HoneyDragon · 13/05/2015 18:40

I do wonder how many people here who are defending this actually get ID'ed. I am 28 and I can't remember the last time I wasn't ID'ed

I'm 36 and still get asked regularly for ID. I'm still in favour of Challenge 25. I agree with the pp it would be much more straight forward to ID for all adult purchases.

FrothingAtTheGash · 13/05/2015 18:41

It's to prevent young teens getting easy access to booze and the damage to their bodies

No shit, Sherlock.

The lack of common sense these people have is embarassing.

FrothingAtTheGash · 13/05/2015 18:42

And yes Twatco are notorious for it

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