(Lighthearted) to ask for your ID please!?

[WantingMuchMore]

Out shopping today and I popped into a poundsaver type shop to stock up on e-liquid. I usually do this once a fortnight or so, as I dont use my vape all that often but never had anyone raise an eyebrow.

"Do you have ID?" asks the sales assistant.

I laughed and said something like, "thats quite funny seeing as I'm ".

Well, I wasnt prepared for the stony face and the next "your ID, if you dont mind",

Slightly confused, I hand over my driving licence which is studied hard for quite some time before being handed back and my purchases rung through the till.

I'm stunned. I'm (well) over 40 have smoked on and off since I was 11 (on the back of the bus) and havent been asked for ID in clubs, pubs or off licences since I turned 15 years old. I dont think I look anywhere near 18 or even 25 - I'm an almost ex smoker, we arent known for aging well!

Anyone else been the subject of seemingly random and pointless ID checks, just to brighten the sales assistant obviously boring day?

If a knife/tobacco/alcohol products is sold then it flashes on the screen. The cashier probably just did it automatically. Also you may not know this but people are sent into shops to buy the 18+ products and have to report back as to whether or not the cashier asked for ID. So as annoying as it is to have to fish out a passport, they have no choice but to ask.

I haven't been asked for ID in years! I was born before Neil Armstrong walked on the moon and to be honest, if I was asked for ID when buying alcohol, glue or cutlery (never smoked) I would tell them not to bother and walk out. The guidance states that checks should be made if the customer looks under 25 and there is NO WAY I even look under 40! the only photo ID I have is my passport and I don't carry that around with me so if a shop wants to be silly I'll just take my custom elsewhere.

It’s ridiculous isn’t it.

I get that they have to ask if someone could potentially be under 25 because there’s a chance they could be under 18 and look older.

Asking adults clearly in their 30s/40s and beyond is just stupidity. Common sense needs to be applied.

Asking adults clearly in their 30s/40s and beyond is just stupidity. Common sense needs to be applied.

If only it was that simple. As was discussed on another thread about retail recently, the average till worker has to apply whatever rules are thrown at them by management, which might be on a completely different planet from common sense. As others on this thread have said, the till workers can personally be fined, or sacked if they sell to underage. Once they have asked, they can't unask, them's the rules (in case a customer gets stroppy and tries to intimidate them into selling anyway). Many retail workers would love to employ "common sense", but if they want to keep their jobs, the rulez impozed by management are more important.

I also live in the USA and am asked for I’d anytime I buy alcohol.

It hardly a big deal to hand over ID

I got ID'd last week. I'm 36 and in dire need of finding time to dye my grey streak. I was quite surprised but fortunately just leave my driving licence in my wallet! Was buying beer and chocolate...

It is if you don't have it on you and can't complete one of the many tasks on your to do list.

I was in my late 30s before I stopped being asked for ID and it is very irritating especially when they are happy you are over 18, but not over 25. No laws are being broken, just illogical supermarket rules trumping common sense.

I don't want to carry my driving licence in my wallet. If I lose my bag or it is stolen, the thieves have my house keys and my address.

My DH got asked for ID buying wine last week. He’s 39 and it made his day. I burst out laughing when the cashier asked.

Yup last week in a supermarket self checkout. Bought wine so assistant has to authorise and she asked me for ID, I laughed but she was serious - I’m 49.

Yup. IDed buying alcohol free wine. Obviously bought it by accident but was

Very odd. Most people look their age, and no-one looks more than 7-10 years younger than they actually are. (Not when you look at them properly...)
Im in my mid/ late 30's and get asked for id.
People then look shocked when they see my age!

I've been "unasked" before. Buying wine at the self service checkout, when the light above it flashed the assistant came over and reflexively said "ID please". Then he looked at me and said "Oh no, it's okay."
That felt good

Not true that people can't look 7-10 years younger. It is rare I know but my friend is 33 and everyone thinks she is 17/18 and nobody goes above 22 years of age. She is small and thin with a baby face

Sienna333 yep, i have a young looking face.
When i was in my 20's i got id for the cinema. That was a low point

My friend got ID’d in home bargains once when she was trying to buy scissors. She was about 32 at the time! Her husband got asked when buying wine. He had no ID on him but had his wedding ring with date of wedding engraved in it (about 8 years previously) but that wasn’t accepted!

I used to work in a bar when I was younger, and I was serving a couple for women who were clearly old enough (probably early 40’s). My manager called me over and asked if I’d asked to see ID. I sort of gave him a funny look and said no, and he told me I had to. So I went back, asked for ID and they laughing, telling me they had kids my age, etc etc. Stopped laughing and stayed complained once they said they didn’t have ID on them so I couldn’t serve them. My manager saw they were kicking off and came over. As he got closer, he saw them in better lighting and said “oh, sorry ladies, you looked much younger from over there!” and let me serve them

They were not flattered!

Over id'd a few times a year. I'm almost 33. I love it haha unless I don't have my I'd then it's a ballache

I'm not IDed now. Remember being IDed for alcohol a few years ago. I didn't have it, fair enough but they were happy to accept my credit (not debit) card payment for the rest of it. I queried with cashier who said she knew it made no sense.

I had this in my local Poundland it was always the same sales assistant and it’s everytime I went to buy eliquid.

I wouldn’t mind but I got an odd feeling about her, and after the 5th time and she started calling me by my name, I stopped using that shop. So now go to home bargains or b&m never been asked for ID since.

Not me, my daughter. She was under 18 and buying grenadine. This is very definitely non-alcoholic but is sold in the alcohol section as it is a cocktail ingredient. She liked the taste and mixed it with lemonade.

She was not allowed to buy it as it flagged up an age requirement.

im 28 and get ID’d every time. i even got a child single on the bus recently when i said “single please”

my mum (in her 40s) got ID’d for razers a while back, so i guess it runs in the family (which i am very grateful for )

most people think my mum is early 30s and that im 19-20

I was last asked for ID when I was 35 :) I was so so chuffed! Have never forgotten that day :) (don't think I'll ever get another now :( .... but if I do, I'll be smiling all over and might suggest the sales person gets an eye check up!)

I look my age now but went through a phase of being ID’d a lot. Not a problem as my driving license lives in my purse. Until the day, when aged 28 I attempted to buy a meal deal in Tesco. The checkout operator refused to accept it was me in my ID and accused me of wearing glasses to make myself look older. I was just like WTF, here is a selection of cards with my name on matching my ID which is clearly me so can I just buy my stuff please

I was asked for id a little while ago in a supermarket. I gave my drivers licence and pointed out I was 36 and buying alcohol free wine!! But the teenage cashier was adamant it was needed 🤔