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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
LynetteScavo · 13/05/2015 18:45

You have to look over 25? Angry

I've never been asked for ID. Angry

Original poster
KissMyFatArse · 13/05/2015 18:49

Whereis that's the second time you've exaggerated what happened. Stormed off like a child or stamped my feet. Didn't happen.

I admitted I ended up leaving my goods and this was in haste. No need for trying to exaggerate to get your point across thanks.

OP posts:
parallax80 · 13/05/2015 18:50

I love being IDd, it makes me feel young.

I think the trading standards thing is what it is, and I don't blame individual cashiers for not putting their job at risk.

Having said that, it does feels a bit weird to not be allowed to buy booze but to then be allowed to pay for the rest of the shop on my credit card. Which I had to be over 18 to get. (And says 'Dr Parallax', which must make me at least 23).

Original poster
KissMyFatArse · 13/05/2015 18:51

It was actually morrisons who if they checked my match and more card (i assume you may need to be of age to get that?!) they've served me ridiculous amounts of alcohol without question!

OP posts:
CandOdad · 13/05/2015 18:55

Me 33
Wife 33
Nephew 22
Nephew 22

We were refused three pints and a J20 once because they didn't believe she was over 18 and thought one of the pints may be for her. We had been married for six years and she was six months pregnant too.

Gileswithachainsaw · 13/05/2015 19:03

I never said some places didn't take it too far. but I can't serve someone if they are with someone who can't provide id and I suspect (usually cos they have handed said item.over) that it's for the person who had no ID.

I don't serve alcohol and when I did work.in.bars it wasn't as heavy going then as it is now.

yes its a pain but your not the one risking their job and a large personal fine. I find age difficult to judge sometimes. People look alot younger than. they are at times but it's the job I have to do it.

It's not fun I assure you because the abuse we receive is unbelievable.

as I said. It's not to make your life difficult but to protect those not old enough from.the consequences.

ElleyBear13 · 13/05/2015 19:11

I was buying the monthly shop last year (24) and added.a bottle of champers to my trolley as it was my 1st year wedding anniversary with hubby.(wasnt cheap at £65) anyway i brought my brother along (who was 23). After ringing through my groceries, cleaning products etc we were both asked for ID, i produced my driving id but as my brother didn't have any on him they refused the sale. I asked for the manager and his concern was that i would give the £65 bottle of champagne to my brother once we were outside the shop and he might not be my brother (i could be buying for someone underage) i couldn't believe it what underage youths sit around drinking expensive bottles of champagne??! Ffs. Was fuming. Never shopped in tescos again (and they lost a £150+ sale)

AnnaBegins · 13/05/2015 19:18

Anyone been ID'd for Marsala wine flavoured ice cream before? Just me then?! Checkout guy and I had a right laugh about that as he was 17 so had to get someone else over to ok the sale. Of ice cream.

Also been ID'd for elderflower cordial before. The lady asked to see ID, I told her I was perfectly happy to show her my ID but for what purpose as I wasn't buying alcohol. She looked rather confused...

Original poster
KissMyFatArse · 13/05/2015 19:27

These stories make me feel better SmileSmileWink

OP posts:
Iwasbornin1993 · 13/05/2015 19:35

I'm only 22 and have never ever been asked for ID in any shop at all! I used to think this was great when I was buying wine at 17 younger - not so much now when coming to the conclusion I clearly look old before my time! Shock

Gnome7000 · 13/05/2015 19:36

I was asked for ID when buying paracetamol in sainsburys. I'm 34. I know that it's nice to look young but it gets to the point where it's embarrassing to be asked!

namechange0dq8 · 13/05/2015 19:38

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

No they can't be fined for that. The offence is committed when they sell to someone under 18. It is a defence that you checked ID. The "Challenge 25" thing is to remind people to check ID. If they fail to check ID, and the person they sell to is 18 years and a day old, no offence has been committed. Trading standards cannot just make law up.

Kayakwonder · 13/05/2015 20:00

Agree with pps who mentioned bloody rudeness of staff discussing age/appearance in front of you!

My ears healed up after years of not wearing earrings so a month before getting married (age 28) popped into Claire's Accessories on high street and asked for piercings to be re-done. Two young members of staff refused and had absurd conversation in front of me about how young I looked. Walked out and went to nice salon instead.

Now in my thirties still get asked for ID for wine in Tesco but have driving licence ready.

Gileswithachainsaw · 13/05/2015 20:13

name

regardless of it not being an offence a challenge 25 fail is still considered gross misconduct and potentially leads to dismissal.

buildmeabuttercup · 13/05/2015 20:19

I stopped using sainsburys when I was point blank refused to be served for a scratch card. There is absolutely no way on this earth I look anywhere near 15. If I was under 16 I would have been at school on a Tuesday morning!

I totally understand the need for an ID policy , but staff should be able to use their common sense. Once I had to buy some deodorant for my DP some deodorant because he never had ID, we were 21!

plentychilled · 13/05/2015 20:35

A few months ago I bought some cutlery from Argos. I was with my 2 year old ds and he loves getting the change and the receipts. Anyway our numbers called and we go up to collect the item, ds goes to hand the receipt to the woman and she refuses to take it off him, and makes him give it to me to give it to her, because he is under 18. I was a bit Hmm as he clearly wasn't buying them!

It's such a shame staff are too worried to use common sense

JemimaPuddlePop · 13/05/2015 20:42

I had a massive arguement with a Tesco manager last year. I'd done a huge food shop, and had two bottles of wine too. I also had 2 ds's (aged 6 and 4) and my 14 year old sister with me (she was staying with us as my parents were away, and we'd stopped after I'd picked her up from school).

I was asked for ID, so showed it (I'm 28). Then the checkout girl asked my sister for ID, so I did a Hmm and said she didn't have ID, she's 14 years old.

Cue her refusing the sale. A manager was called, who looked like she wanted the ground to swallow her up, and said she 'had to back up the cashier and couldn't reverse the decision if ID had been requested'.

I told the manager I was my sister's guardian and asked if she would also like ID for my six year old, or if there was a general rule that parents with under 18's could not buy alcohol.

She again refused so I demanded the store manager. Got A lot of attitude and rolled eyes from the first manager, who only called the store manager down after five minutes of arguing and assertions of 'she'll only say the same as us'.

The store manager took one look at us, gave a profuse apology and I left with my shopping, my wine and a £20 gift card to apologise for the 25 minutes I'd been stuck there.

namechange0dq8 · 13/05/2015 21:13

I had a massive arguement with a Tesco manager last year.

And yet oddly, you never get get this nonsense in Waitrose. Presumably the affluent middle classes can be trusted with a bottle of ten quid wine, but the
Tesco customer base might be up to no good with a bottle of Lambrini.

Alternatively, this explains why Waitrose are profitable and growing, while Tesco's balance sheet is completely fucked.

emms1981 · 13/05/2015 21:16

my brother is 31, loosing his hair nearly always has a beard and gets asked for ID in lidl it really annoys him

LomaLinda77 · 13/05/2015 21:21

Rolodex based on my very limited knowledge of the law: you would be in trouble (not the cashier). Their presentation of the goods and the price is an invitation to treat. When you take the goods to the cashier you are making an offer. Then they can choose to accept or reject it (though there are all kinds of consumer protection and anti-discrimination laws governing when they are allowed to reject your offer ie refuse service/refuse a sale).

That's my understanding. If you take the goods and leave payment when they have not accepted your offer, the cashier has not 'sold you alcohol'.

I'm sure someone will be along soon to tell me how and why I'm wrong Grin

NotMyChashkaChai · 13/05/2015 21:35

it annoys the hell out of me when I occasionally get id'd. I'm nearly double the legal drinking age and I certainly don't look 18! But the problem I have is that I don't drive and therefore don't carry a driving license and I certainly don't carry my passport around with me in the off chance that I may be asked for id! When I was 18 (and did look younger) I did bother to get one of those prove it cards (not sure if they even still do them anymore!) But I really resent having to pay for something like that at nearly double the legal drinking age!

LavenderRain · 13/05/2015 22:41

My DD got id'd for a scratchcard and shes 25!

Indigomontoya · 13/05/2015 23:40

I work in a supermarket. Think 25 is the pain in the arse of all food retailers lives.

  • we have to id colleagues and customers EVERY single time they buy cigs or alcohol if the look under 25
  • we have to ask for id EVERY single time, even if we only saw it yesterday
  • if we get caught selling cigs or alcohol to someone who looks under 25, and they are a test purchaser, we get a disciplinary, and if caught again within a 12 month period, we get sacked.
  • if it's a police test purchase that we fail we ( the assistant, not the shop)get fined and could go to jail.

It's absolutely ridiculous the pressure we are under to comply with the law.
We would love to use our common sense but unfortunately in doing so we could lose our job.

Talismania · 14/05/2015 02:54

Well there is a policy of IDing anyone who looks under 40 at the shop I went to recently and they did NOT ID me... I'm 30. I'd rather have been asked!!

Talismania · 14/05/2015 02:56

What I wonder though is how on earth anyone could ever prove that a person didn't look over 25 to you. I don't know what a 25 year old is supposed to look like but I know what a teenager looks like. They can prove you served to someone under 18 but they can't prove that an over 18 didn't appear to you to be under 25.

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