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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To get really frustrated by the Think 25 rule

439 replies

Cloeycat · 05/12/2016 10:53

Not so much having to be ID'd but the fact that if I am with my partner and don't have my wallet (I'm over 25 and also obviously pregnant) that he is not able to purchase alcohol for himself unless I hide or pretend not to be with him.

I don't always carry my ID with me, especially if we are just popping to our local supermarket for something for dinner and he is paying but it is so frustrating that I then have to wait outside the door in the cold like a naughty 16yr old so that he can buy himself a beer or bottle of wine.

Does this rule apply to parents buying alcohol if they are accompanied by children who are under 18? Or is it just when it is two adults trying to legally buy alcohol that a problem arises?

OP posts:

TheCompanyOfCats · 05/12/2016 13:49

Also, I've told this story on here before but it still shocks me:

I was chatting to the person in front of me at the till, because I knew that person. They were buying some Guinness. I was buying soup. Check out gestapo wouldn't sell to either of us because we were talking together, and I didn't have ID. I ONLY WANTED SOUP! Also I was in my mid-20s so you know, I think I can handle a tin of Heinz lentil. Friend was also refused their Guinness.

Ifailed · 05/12/2016 13:49

it might be illuminating for some to learn about this from the shop workers point of view, here is a report from USDAW, the shopworkers union

www.usdaw.org.uk/ecunderage

Hamsolo · 05/12/2016 13:52

Got ID'd buying non-alcoholic beer recently. (I'm 39).

TondelayaDellaVentamiglia · 05/12/2016 13:56

dh had this nonsense in the Co-op with dd....buying a bottle of single malt for himself, a bottle of sherry for his mother and some Mackesons (sp??) for his dad.

dd was with him and the assistant gestured at her and asked for ID, dh waited until the manager was summonsed and enquired which of the items he thought would be most appealing to an underaged non drinking this teen

It's a joke. People over 18 are allowed to purchase drink, and it makes no never mind who is standing with them in the queue.

MycatsaPirate · 05/12/2016 13:58

I told the woman who cleared the ID thing on the till the other week that I was insulted that she cleared it so fast without even deliberating whether I may be under 25! She laughed.

I'm 47 but that's beside the point.

Lasvegas · 05/12/2016 14:01

Hopefully someone in a supermarket reading this. What about a scheme whereby people show their ID once Inc birth certificate and then they get a shoppers ID card. Maybe it could be linked to a loyalty card?

PandaWanda · 05/12/2016 14:02

I carry my ID with me all the time ... Sadly I never, EVER get asked for it. I've been out with friends before and every single one has been asked for ID except for me. I am only in my mid twenties!

QuimReaper · 05/12/2016 14:02

Curly That's exactly the kind of bone-headed interpretation of the policy that drives me round the twist - they just unilaterally changed the legal alcohol purchase age!

Ocado went through a brief phase of IDing customers on delivery. It fizzled very quickly. As a PP said, presumably they wouldn't start wandering around the house requesting ID from everyone in it. The proxy law is completely farcical and should be immediately clarified.

LittleMissUpset · 05/12/2016 14:04

I work for a large chain and we only have to ask for ID from the person buying (we are allowed to refuse if we believe they are buying it for someone else, but I've never had to do that) if it's a parent and teenager I usually just check who is paying.

It's really hard to tell people's age though, and I know a lot of people wouldn't like it, but I would prefer to have to ask everyone for ID regardless of age (just the person paying), as people do get abusive, I know some people wouldn't like it, but it would take the stress out of wondering who to ask. and maybe they would moan about that instead of the carrier bag charge

WatchingFromTheWings · 05/12/2016 14:05

Far too open to misuse. Birth certs would just be borrowed and passed around with no way of knowing that the underage person stood in front of you is actually the 18 years of age the birth cert shows. And it's not up to the shops to make these decisions.

nokidshere · 05/12/2016 14:07

If stores have to enforce Id checks they should train their staff properly.

Only the person purchasing alcohol needs to be checked and that needs to be realistic. I am 55 and no one could mistake me for under forty five. Asking for the sake of it is annoying. I'm not flattered at being asked for ID I'm irritated. I fully expect my just turned 18yr old to carry his and be asked for it.

paxillin · 05/12/2016 14:09

Reading about the abuse shop workers get in Ifailed's link, I wonder if we won't end up with an American style law. ID even if you look 90. Then nobody can be offended.

5to2 · 05/12/2016 14:10

It seems so inconsistently applied. I regularly buy alcohol when I have my DDs with me and have been asked for ID but have never been refused the purchase.

It seems to be Tesco and Asda who are the main culprits though and I don't shop there.

WatchingFromTheWings · 05/12/2016 14:22

Only the person purchasing alcohol needs to be checked

Not strictly true. Proxy sales are taken very seriously. If we see, for example people who are or who are suspected of buying alcohol for others then we must ID them all. It's happened to me where a group of 6 teenagers came to my shop. They all came in, selected their booze, handed it and their cash to an older lad with ID, then vanished from the shop. I insisted on 6 lots of ID or no booze. Ended up having to call the police as it got nasty. The nice policeman had a word with them all, informing them of the rules before sending them all home.

Of course I personally wouldn't ID a patent with young kids but other staff may do and they are within their rights to do so if they suspect those purchasing will be passing the age related item on to someone underage.

ItsALLAboutMeMeMeMeME · 05/12/2016 14:32

Here in the USA, the only people required to carry ID at all times are permant residents who must carry their green cards. Drivers must carry their licences when driving and over 21s who look under 25 must carry ID if they want to buy alcohol. Many establishments selling or serving alcohol just ID everyone to save time and arguments so, even if you're 90 and look it, no ID = no alcohol.

No, in the UK you don't have to carry ID, that's your legal and constitutional right but private businesses also have the right to set their own conditions over and above the law if they so choose so it's very unreasonable to complain just because you feel you are too special to comply especially when you know in advance that this is the business's rule. If you want to buy age-restricted items in a business that requires you or those accompanying you to provide ID: carry ID or shop elsewhere.

Never had a problem buying alcohol when accompanied by younger people in supermarkets though, as long as the purchaser has ID or looks over 25 there is no problem, so I don't think the OP is BU for objecting to that. That said if that is the rule of that particular store you either comply or shop elsewhere. I get that it must be frustrating to be refused service when you are above or well above the legal age but I think if you are intending to buy age restricted items it makes sense to carry ID at least on those occasions. Here to save time and arguments many places that sell alcohol just ID every

drspouse · 05/12/2016 14:37

I've never been IDd when having a Sainsbury's delivery, and neither has my 4 year old who helps to unload.
I can understand that I look ancient, but he doesn't!

TheDayIBroke · 05/12/2016 14:53

My employer uses the Challenge 25 rule. The customer and/or people they are with must look over 25, not just look over 18, or in some cases 16. This is for booze - including non alcoholic, as well as things like paracetamol, sewing scissors and some children's toys (Skylanders figures, Pokemon figures and cards - no idea why )

Regarding IDing of those who are with the person buying stuff, we are told to use our discretion. If we think they are buying alcohol etc for the rest of them, then ID the lot. Personally, I think its none of my business to monitor a legal sale, but apparently I have a "duty of care" along with my store. If I suspect the customer is drunk, no sale.

We have many testers that come from other branches to test us to ensure that we are adhering to this. I got caught because my customer was 24 years of age! Had to go through the disciplinary, which was unpleasant, but I can't moan as it is company policy.

As a cashier, I absolutely hate asking for ID. The customer can turn on you like a rabid dog because they don't agree with this "ID malarkey" and make my job so stressful. Don't get nasty with the cashier, please, they are serving you because they need the job and are terrified they'll fuck up and end up with a disciplinary like I did. We have only a short time to look discreetly at you to try and ascertain your age, so please be civil. You trap more flies with honey than with vinegar!

I ID everyone who looks around the 25 year old mark, not 18. I've learned my lesson.

nokidshere · 05/12/2016 15:07

There is a huge difference between being 25 and 55 though and I can honestly say neither me nor any of my friends look 25 anymore sadly.

By all means Id people who look 25 or younger - even though it's a ridiculous rule in the first place - but asking for ID from everyone just in case is also ridiculous.

QuimReaper · 05/12/2016 15:09

Watching you must be able to see the difference between that and the OP though.

nokidshere · 05/12/2016 15:10

How can you be disciplined for making a legal sale? If you have decided that the person is 18-25 then you are doing your job - if the person turned out to be 17 then fine to get into trouble but 24 is legal and within your remit.

TheDayIBroke · 05/12/2016 15:11

nokidshere I would rather ID everyone who looks around the 25 mark than lose my job. We are watched to make sure we are doing this. It is horrible to know you are being monitored and having to deal with a very verbally disgruntled customer.

lilyb84 · 05/12/2016 15:16

I didn't used to drive and lost so many passports (through it being my only form of ID and through me being an idiot) that the passport office refused to issue me one for a while yes I'm still embarrassed about this. Until I got my provisional license aged 30 I was IDd all the time and had nothing to give them. Very frustrating as ID isn't always something you have on you if you don't drive!

I was refused service when on holiday with my dad, aged 25. He asked me to buy him some beer when I popped into a shop for food for that evening. Cashier wouldn't serve me - fair enough. Dad then popped in himself and was refused service too as the cashier put two and two together and realised we were together. I didn't even want the bloody beer! Cashier told us not to bother trying at any other checkout but we did anyway and were served by someone else.

About the same time, I was in a pub on my own and ordered a beer. Landlord asked me for ID, I must have smiled as I reached for my precious passport as he then said "oh, well now you've smiled I can see the lines around your eyes, don't worry love!". Bastard

I totally and utterly appreciate the issue from the customer service person's point of view but that doesn't stop the whole thing from being annoying, especially in some of the examples seen here where people can't buy alcohol even though they're clearly not trying to enable an underage party... Funnily enough since I stopped getting any sleep when ds was born I also stopped getting IDd!

TheDayIBroke · 05/12/2016 15:18

nokidshere I did feel that it was unfair getting the disciplinary as the customer was 24. Plus she couldn't tell how old I was and gave my age in a very broad estimate. I was upset about it as I felt it was bordering on entrapment, on a very busy day and dealing with several customers at the same time, with no one to help me. If I do it again, I will most likely be fired.

Ifailed · 05/12/2016 15:18

drspouse
that's because its highly unlikely you would be proxy-buying alcohol for 4 year old. A 14 year old is another matter, and if the driver thought you had bought some on their behalf, they shouldn't make the delivery

dustarr73 · 05/12/2016 15:20

Im assuming the cashier didnt ask for id,so had no idea what the age of the person buying it.
I used to work on the tills and we would have teenagers come in and pick their booze and give the money to the person with id.Same with they would stand outside shops and ask people who where going in to buy the booze.

Its the cashier who gets into trouble and the fine.Just not worth it.

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