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?

Well @Sirzy I've not been asked for in ages so didn't think I would be.

Ok seems I'm a bit IBU. Shouldn't we just get the law changed then?

For those saying about the provisional, I will, once my British passport comes through. Until then I guess DP is buying all the wine.

Does the law really need changing?

Don't people who think they're likely to buy wine or other age restricted products just need to carry ID? I don't understand why legislation is needed when people should just take personal responsibility.

There's another thread running with an OP asking if it's ok to let her son out at 17, with fake ID.

This is why there is challenge 25.

The law changed a couple of years ago, and now if fail 3 test purchases, you can lose your alcohol licence. This has already happened in a couple of pubs around the country.
It's not worth it for a supermarket.
Alcohol is an age restricted product.
teenagers nowadays are dressing older and older and sometimes it is genuinely hard to judge.
If it was challenge 18, you might end up serving a 17yr old that looked 18, but would be illegal.

Besides that, it sounds like the shop assistant did nothing to embarrass you, you in fact chose to be embarrassed because you didn't have the right Id on you, not that you were actually being id'd

I got asked how old I was for the lottery today! I don't drink or smoke so I don't carry my ID as I never need it. I was so embarrassed and got really flustered and forgot how old I was and said 'erm I'm 25, 26, 27, NO I'M 28!' then forgot what scratch card I wanted. She just laughed and said 'I've thrown you off now haven't I' and served me anyway but I made a right tit of myself.

I then went to Lidl still flustered and embarrassed and the lady said 'good morning' and I said 'thank you!'

It's annoying but some younger people nowadays look about 25 when they are still in their teens so you can never be too careful. I hate asking people for ID because some people get really offended and arsey but it's not worth my job not to ask.

Annoying as it is I take it as a compliment

Sometimes it might be because they're bored. Or pissed off.

One lady wouldn't serve me, I was with my very tall nearly 15 year old, I am 36. I have grey hairs out in force. But she refused.

I don't have ID or a driving licence. I pointed to my grey hairs! Her reply was, 'yeah well, I went grey at 20'

DH is 46, and HE gets ID'd too.

He went to buy a meal deal, and was refused the wine! Checkout guy was sniggering when we left empty handed.

I get ID'd a lot. Generally by staff not old enough to buy alcohol themselves. I think they can't tell someone who is 25 vs 35.

Staff under 18 have to call a supervisor to ID for them so you won't be ID'd by staff not old enough to buy alcohol.

Sometimes it might be because they're bored. Or pissed off.

Unlikely, but maybe change supermarkets.

Right, I'm applying for my provisional. I've never bothered to learn to drive as I live less than 2 miles from work & enjoy the walk, but I really should get a car & I'm still getting challenged for ID. Had to leave a bottle of wine at the supermarket a few months ago as I couldn't prove I was 25... I'm 36.

Therein lies the irony that I can't tell their ages either

There is a lot of opposition to compulsory ID cards in this country. Even the voluntary ID card program we had a few years ago was quickly abolished at the change of government so I don't see that law changing anytime soon

If I tried to buy wine (I am clearly north of 35, and am actually 51), and am clearly both over 18 and 25, but couldn't prove it, I would be refused? Why not just change the age to 25 then for buying alcohol?

I don't mind sometimes, but when I'm being ID'd for a bottle of fucking calpol when I've got an obviously poorly child in my arms and I look like an extra from the walking dead then I find it does get my back up. Because where I live they challenge 25 for fucking everything.
I only need to be 16 to buy calpol, pain killers or scissors for pity's sakes. I'm 25

My daughter bought wine in Tesco on her 18th birthday and they refused to sell it to her as 'she might share the alcohol with me', her 45 year old mother

I'd left my bag in the car and just popped in to watch her buy her first drink

And then had to go out to the car to get it

I was ID'd the other day doing a weekly shop and had a bottle of wine in the shopping. I'm 32. I was asked for ID and didn't have my passport on my, but had a driving licence. The check our person said they couldn't accept it (even though it was in date) because it had to be a passport. I questioned why I needed to show ID and they said because I may have been planing to give the wine to a child.

The lady in the queue behind me had a full load of shopping and also a child with her. She was also buying wine. I asked whether they were going to ID her too. Was told no. Because she's clearly old enough as she had a kid.

I pointed out that my ID was in date. Not my fault they only accepted passports and it wasn't fair that they were not going to ID the lady behind me.

Lady behind me backed me up on this and said she no longer wanted her shopping. I left mine too. Checkout lady was annoyed as it had all been scanned through. I asked to see store manager and see their policy re ID. No where did it say it must be a passport. Just a valid form of government issues ID. the poster included a driving licence. Apparently the store preferred to accept passports as less likely to be faked.

Frustrating. But I went elsewhere for my shopping.

scaryteacher - where I am in the SE, yes. That's very likely depending what shop you go in.

YABU. They're doing their job, not to embarrass you, which really isn't worth risking if they get it wrong.

I've only ever been asked for ID once, and that was when buying a pocket knife in Wilkos. I didn't think anything of it, much less take offense at it.

I never get ID'd. When I go through the self service till and the assistant has to approve my booze purchases they quickly choose the "obviously over 25" option. I just wish they'd pretend to at least think about it for a moment!!

It pisses me off. I'm 26 and sometimes I can't even buy a fucking scratch card.

Why don't you just carry ID koala?

How would you prove it's your card?
How would you prove any other ID is yours? People don't always look like their photo, and shop staff don't always look at the photo

Sail Maybe I'll stay in Belgium a bit longer then!!!!

I had to show Id for a pack of ibuprofen in coop today. I'm 38!

I don't mind tbh - I think it should be blanket like it is in the us.

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

How would it be easier? Just carry appropriate ID, it's not rocket science.

sky whoever asked you for Id for ibuprofen doesn't know the law.

www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/1009.aspx?CategoryID=62

Me and DH did our food shop and they asked for ID. We're almost 30. I handed mine over but DH had his wallet etc in the car. They sent him back to the car to get it despite the fact it was 1 bottle of wine in a £100 shop and I'd already proven my age.

I get they have to check but there needs to be a bit of common sense applied if people are clearly over 18.

On one occasion, someone wanted to refuse sale to me and my mam... because my mam didn't have ID! She was in her 40s. We were furious. They tried to argue that I would have to return later without my mam. We went elsewhere.