To hate "think 25" guidance

[FairiesAlwaysWearBlue]

Im 28 and look my age! I'm ten years over the legal drinking age and Waitrose wouldn't let me buy a bottle of cider!

Yes I know I should have had ID but I don't drive so no license and I don't often have my passport with me.

I was looking forward to my bottle of cider as a treat for working hard in the library earlier today.

Yes you should protect underage children from buying alcohol but IABU to be annoyed with "think 25" now means everyone needs to show ID?

The forms of ID you had weren't the permitted ones. That's all. there is a very strict and concise list.

It's not to do with 'common sense' but the rules of the business.

The lad working on the till at Morrison's asked me the other week, and I was all and then I looked at him and he had a big on his face, ha ha massive joke.

I'm 50 btw.

Im 27 and got ID'd for a scratch card in Asda t'other day. Over feckin moon I was. When I was 18 and got asked for ID I used to be highly offended whereas now I practically skip out of the shop wanting to scream it from the rooftop.

I expect that shop assistants hate it more than you
One thousand per cent, especially given that trading standards (and I think also the police?) do send in "tests" -- underage people who they give money to and instruct to ask for cigarettes or alcohol. If the cashier makes a mistake there (and yes, it's fairly simple to tell who is 20 years old and who is 40 years old, but the difference between 16 and 18/20 is not always that readily apparent) they can be personally fined large amounts of money and lose their job. A lot of stores have a "refusal register" and are required to fill in how many people they ask for ID, if this number is too low they are told it must improve, and the fear of god is put into them generally about making any mistakes.

@Sparklingbrook yes but not everyone has a passport or a driving license. What then?

And can someone post what is the approved list of IDs?

They need to get one ( or one of the following). Simple as that. Here's the list-

(i) A passport
(ii) A European Union photocard driving licence
(iii) A Ministry of Defence Form 90 (Defence Identity Card)
(iv) A photographic identity card bearing the national Proof of Age Standards Scheme (PASS) hologram
(v) A national identity card issued by a European Union member state (other than the United Kingdom), Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland, or
(vi) A Biometric Immigration Document.

I loved my time in the States because I was always being asked for ID to drink I'm 27 and rarely get asked here :( When I do I take it as a compliment :)

I do think America has it right tbh - ask everyone then no one can get offended. It's just the way it is there.

Are you annoyed with yourself for forgetting your ID?

hugs

But cider is pretty rank, go in and try and buy a nice Pinot Noir and you'll probably be fine

Test purchasers are 16/17 YOs who may or may not look 18+. They are not people in their mid 30s who may look 24 in a darkened room.

Yes you should protect underage children from buying alcohol but IABU to be annoyed with "think 25" now means everyone needs to show ID?

I can assure you it does not, I carry my driving license in my purse (even though it's been revoked) for the sole purpose of proving my age and no one has ever asked for it.

I got excited in Waitrose this morning buying a litre of gin at the self scan till, I asked the assistant to tell the machine I was over 18 and she said "let me see..." , but no she just pressed the button.

Doesn't really make a difference what age the test purchasers are. They may well send older ones in if they wish to.

The management may even choose to send someone in.

I get IDed for everything. All of the time. I'm 26 but look very childlike. I wish I didn't. I would love to look my age.

Orlantina it's an offence to attempt to buy alcohol under 18..so if your ds is under age and scans wine at self service then he is breaking the law...even if he is not paying. I know it's daft but it's the letter of the law.

The first time you don't get ID'd I bet you will be a bit sad Cabbage.

We have just applied for a provisional driving licence for DS2 so he can prove his age; ASD and MLD means he can never drive but he doesn't look 18 so we have paid £37 So he has proof

I am 35 and have not been asked since I was 18! I would love someone to query if I was 25

FWIW I'm 25 but could pass for 18 (round baby face!) and I know with certainty I'm always going to be asked for ID when buying alcohol (once a woman in Tesco over in England didn't believe my provisional driving licence was real because it looked different to theirs and had to hare off to find a manager and it was a whole kerfuffle) and it doesn't bother me. I just make sure to carry ID.

Well user it was posh cider as a treat for handing in an essay and studying all day.

Im annoyed because it caused a fuss and I hate having the attention on me like that. Everyone is the queue was staring which isn't anyone's fault before someone says it wasn't the staff members fault.

None of those are compulsory. My point is that it's not compulsory to show ID only if challenged. So wouldn't it be easier for everyone if the law was changed to make it compulsory? Then no more complaints by people like me who don't carry ID

In the supermarket I work at, most of the issues with think 25 are because a lot of the till staff don't understand it so the managers tell them 'better safe than sorry' type crap. I've been ID'd for a 15 film by somebody I work with.

I'm depressed now - the helper on the Tesco self serve till always presses the 'Customer CLEARLY over 25' button for me!

I would love it if everyone had to show ID when buying alcohol, i certainly don't enjoy asking for it!

Presumably cashiers would rather avoid a bollocking from their boss over Challenge 25 (never mind fines or job loss) so err on the side of caution and adhere strictly to the rules re ID. As you would really.

But if you know you are likely to be asked surely it makes sense to make sure you have a valid form of id? Either that or be willing to be refused service.

The staff aren't to blame for your lack of id

Up in. Sunny Scotland our youngsters are issued with a young scot card..photo id with Dob on it.free of charge..at 12years is is there not an English equivalent

I was refused a bottle of wine in m&s in December, I am 36. I had credit cards etc in my purse, I was in uniform and work in a shop next door but 1. I understand that staff are cautious but the girl asking me was CLEARLY under 25 herself. I asked for the manager. Manager said he can't be sure I'm over 25. I said are you sure I'm over 18? He said yes. Erm.... legal age is 18 so why I was still refused I've not a clue. No harm done, I went to my local wine merchant on my way home and gave them my money instead :) I also now make sure my driving licence is ALWAYS in my purse