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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
DieSchottin93 · 05/12/2016 15:33

I got suspended from alcohol sales for two weeks for failing a test purchase - the girl who got the cigarettes/alcohol was only a couple of weeks off turning 20 so legally there was nothing wrong with the sale but it's company policy. I was lucky it was a company test purchase because they always use over 18s (but under 25s) and not a Trading Standards/police test purchase where they often use underagers. I thought she looked older than me tbh (and I'm 23) but it was only when she came back for her receipt that it hit me she was a test purchaser. She thought I was "19 or younger" Hmm so it goes to show how hard it is to accurately guess someone's age. This is precisely why a lot of cashiers will ask for ID because it's better to be safe than sorry.

Regarding proxy sales, that's more of a common sense issue. If I was serving a mother and a teenager who were doing a weekly shop for example and they had one or two bottles of wine it's fairly easy to assume the mother most likely is buying the alcohol for herself. However if there is a group of young people I'd ask them all for ID and if even one of them didn't have their ID then tough, no sale.

Also someone mentioned further back in this thread they thought using their expired passport would be the perfect solution - the majority of shops will only accept valid ID and that means ID that hasn't expired. I've had to refuse people who have expired passports because our company policy clearly states if the ID is expired it's not valid, even if the customer is over 18.

RaingodsWithZippos · 05/12/2016 15:34

In America last year, TGI Fridays were reluctant to serve me a beer. I didn't have my passport with me (it was in the hotel safe) and although I'm late 30s, had my 59 year old husband with me and my teenage son who was on the Pepsi, the waitress had to get the manager out to determine whether I was definitely over 21. Eventually they served me, but I think I must look much younger than my years.

My friend was asked for ID in Tesco when she bought a quiche (it made the Sun and Daily Mail).

WatchingFromTheWings · 05/12/2016 15:36

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

Without seeing either the op or her partner I couldn't possibly comment. If the staff member concerned believed the op looked under 25 and that her partner may be purchasing an age related product for her then they are obliged to ID them both.

WatchingFromTheWings · 05/12/2016 15:41

That should say 'obliged to ask for ID and refuse the sale if none presented.'

Coffeeisnecessary · 05/12/2016 15:43

Watching- But it's not illegal to consume alcohol in someone's home under the age of 18, so I don't understand how it's the shops' business!

Ifailed · 05/12/2016 15:50

Coffeeisnecessary
It's not illegal to consume at home if over 5, but is it illegal to buy it for them!

dustarr73 · 05/12/2016 15:50

Watching- But it's not illegal to consume alcohol in someone's home under the age of 18, so I don't understand how it's the shops' business!

You woulnt be saying that if it was your underage kid being served.

Original poster
Cloeycat · 05/12/2016 15:51

watching While im not going to post a picture (and I'm aware you didn't ask me to!) for a bit of context:

I am over 25, heavily pregnant, clearly look close to my age as never get ID checks in pubs or bars and don't always get ID'd in supermarkets just sometimes. My partner on the other hand I will admit looks young and he always gets checked even when I don't. I recently put a picture of both of us in that age guessing app- it put me at 47 and him at 16. I wasn't impressed!

OP posts:
WatchingFromTheWings · 05/12/2016 15:56

Watching- But it's not illegal to consume alcohol in someone's home under the age of 18, so I don't understand how it's the shops' business!

Because the law says so. And Trading Standards. And the people who issue the alcohol sales licenses. And the police. Hmm

WatchingFromTheWings · 05/12/2016 16:02

@cloeycat. The problem is, whilst you think you look older than you are, I could In theory agree with the age guessing app, but another staff member terrified of getting it wrong and getting disciplined may believe you to be younger. Unfortunately the training we get doesn't teach everyone how to judge ages. It's our own perception of how old you look. And god help us if we get it wrong! The fine is equivalent, almost, to my annual wage. Whilst as a slightly (!!) older more experienced worker I'd consider myself pretty good at judging ages, not everyone has that confidence.

And just so everyone knows, there are whispers that the powers that be are planning on increasing it to 'think 30'. Confused

TheDayIBroke · 05/12/2016 16:05

If my test purchaser was who I thought it was, I would have said they were 26 or 27. Hence I didn't ask for ID, because they appeared to me to be over 25.

Any cashiers on here who can tell me whether they ID the same people each time because you are watched, even though you know they are over 18, but are under 25.

TheDayIBroke · 05/12/2016 16:06

Think 30? Sad Please no .....

Original poster
Cloeycat · 05/12/2016 16:07

To be fair Watching my gripe really isn't with the staff members, I've been there and if on the fence I'd always check ID to be in the safe side, wasn't worth the job or fine.

My gripe is the proxy selling applying to all adults in the party. I can't see how it is appropriate that the shop or its staff be held accountable when the chief purchaser is over 18 and has been checked and has proved that to be the case. It's ridiculous and frustrating for the customers and it's repeatedly putting staff in an awkward and potentially volatile situation

OP posts:
WatchingFromTheWings · 05/12/2016 16:12

I can assure you it's frustrating for us. Personally I think if anyone is dumb enough to buy alcohol for minors then the buck should stop with them. However the powers that be have decided otherwise, so enforce it we must.

champersandgin · 05/12/2016 16:12

And just so everyone knows, there are whispers that the powers that be are planning on increasing it to 'think 30'.

FFS. Why not just go back to US style prohibition?

imnervous · 05/12/2016 16:15

I got iD'd yesterday, I'm 36 Confused

I thought the cashier was joking so I laughed and said I was 36 and he very sternly told me that he doesn't know that!

I am young looking but not that young!!

WatchingFromTheWings · 05/12/2016 16:17

If my test purchaser was who I thought it was, I would have said they were 26 or 27. Hence I didn't ask for ID, because they appeared to me to be over 25..

This is precisely why so many staff appear to go OTT with it. If you think someone is 26 and they are infact 24, you still get into trouble for failing to ID! Far better to err on the side of caution. I know my boss would rather lose a sale (and a customer for life) than risk losing the licence.

TheInternetIsForPorn · 05/12/2016 16:21

It'd be so much easier if there was an affordable form of national ID that everyone could carry and anything age restricted you showed your ID for. I could get on board with that very easily.

TheDayIBroke · 05/12/2016 16:21

watching you are so right.

We should have the USA style of IDing everyone, regardless of age.

EnormousTiger · 05/12/2016 16:23

Awful stuff. I hate the taste. Never drink. Probably why I am never ill. Give it up today.

Lancelottie · 05/12/2016 16:28

Give up what, though, Tiger? On the evidence of this thread, you'll need to give up wine, chatting to beer drinkers, paracetamol, video games, and possibly lentil soup.

SaucyJack · 05/12/2016 16:31

"Try living in a US state where everyone has to show ID every time they purchase alcohol, even if you are clearly well over 21...."

I wouldn't have a problem with that TBF. At least then we'd know where we stood, and that we had to have and carry I.D.

There are so many random muppet jobsworths in supermarkets these days who seem to be under the impression that it's already UK law that they may as well make it official.

drspouse · 05/12/2016 16:32

On the evidence of this thread, you'll need to give up wine, chatting to beer drinkers, paracetamol, video games, and possibly lentil soup.

And PG films, Peppa Pig knives, and quiche.

Lancelottie · 05/12/2016 16:33

We should make a shopping list and leave it in a trolley, Drspouse.

WatchingFromTheWings · 05/12/2016 16:36

Would rather be a muppet jobsworth than risk a £5000 fine/jail/job loss. Hmm

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