Asked for ID | Mumsnet

CheshireCats · 15/08/2020 23:32

She is right. If she doubts your age, and then she serves you without proof of age it is her that can be fined. Refusals have to logged in a book. Someone on the next checkout saying they went to school with you doesn't count as proof. Because the person who serves you is held responsible, there is nothing else she could do.

Butchyrestingface · 15/08/2020 23:35

Claimed it was against the law to serve someone after you’ve asked for ID if they can’t produce it. I was absolutely gobsmacked. Why do people just invent laws to suit themselves and save face?

Don't think she's "inventing" anything. Once asked, they have to go through with it, regardless of who vouches for you. Or at least, that's been my understanding for years.

Presumably you were wearing a mask? Did they ask you to lift it? I have no idea how anyone would discern age from behind a mask.

SchrodingersImmigrant · 15/08/2020 23:35

It's easier to say it's against the law rather than having to argue with someone who just can't accept a simple thing of no id to produce when asked, no sale...

Lockheart · 15/08/2020 23:36

She's not inventing a law to suit anything OP.

That is the law.

If you need gin that badly then go back with your ID.

BlueJava · 15/08/2020 23:40

DH and me got asked for ID in Tescos fairly recently- we were buying small bottle of Baby Bio! I was really surprised not only because it's plant food but I am 55 and he is only a few years younger than me.

Sally872 · 15/08/2020 23:40

If a cashier asked for id they must see it, aren't allowed to change their mind. Definitely licencing regulation and cashier would face very likely disciplinary action if breaching these rules.

BackforGood · 15/08/2020 23:40

But the point is, why is anyone asking a 34 yr old for ID.
She can legally buy it at 18.
They introduced the whole 'ask if you think they are U25' thing, to support bar staff / bouncers / cashiers in giving them some leeway to not have to make a judgement around 19 - 22 yr olds.
It will be pretty clear that a 34 yr old regular shopper is not U18

THAT's the point.

Butchyrestingface · 15/08/2020 23:44

THAT's the point.

It might be your point but it wasn't the OP's point. It may be clear that OP is not under 18 but less so that she is not under 25, and if they think that is the case, they're required to ask.

I don't like the policy much myself as I am older than OP and still get ID'd for alcohol but my issue is with the system rather than some min wage shop worker facing a £1000+ fine if they innocently mess up.

SchrodingersImmigrant · 15/08/2020 23:45

This is what you get when you don't have national ids which you carry with you all the time😂

LouiseTrees · 15/08/2020 23:46

I don’t know why you didn’t just wait til there was a space and go to the next till then

UserFriendly14 · 15/08/2020 23:46

@BackforGood

But the point is, why is anyone asking a 34 yr old for ID. She can legally buy it at 18. They introduced the whole 'ask if you think they are U25' thing, to support bar staff / bouncers / cashiers in giving them some leeway to not have to make a judgement around 19 - 22 yr olds. It will be pretty clear that a 34 yr old regular shopper is not U18

THAT's the point.

I used to work as a cashier and ID’d someone who apparently was 32. She certainly didn’t look over 25 and it wasn’t worth a fine or my job if I got it wrong.

Sparklesocks · 15/08/2020 23:47

I think you’re being a bit unfair. Some retail staff are really pushed to ID and get in trouble if they don’t. I know sometimes they might seem to be overdoing it on the vigilance but there are rules.

Lockheart · 15/08/2020 23:47

@BackforGood

But the point is, why is anyone asking a 34 yr old for ID. She can legally buy it at 18. They introduced the whole 'ask if you think they are U25' thing, to support bar staff / bouncers / cashiers in giving them some leeway to not have to make a judgement around 19 - 22 yr olds. It will be pretty clear that a 34 yr old regular shopper is not U18

THAT's the point.

Because people don't go round with their age tattooed on their forehead, shop cashiers aren't psychic, a friend's word is not legal proof, some people look younger than they are, and I doubt masks are helping.

Wishforsnow · 15/08/2020 23:50

It's a bit ridiculous they clearly can't tell ages and like to have some mickey mouse authority. I've noticed similar stories in the news and they always seem to be in the North of the country, no idea why just always seem to be.

Elsewyre · 15/08/2020 23:53

@untiednations

I am 34, I went to the supermarket today buying a top up shop incl a bottle of gin. Cashier asked me for ID. I didn’t have any on me but I am a regular in the shop and I went to school with the cashier on the neighbouring checkout and we had been chatting while waiting (his checkout was vacant). After I mentioned this (and school friend confirmed) I expected my cashier to back down as it was obviously a mistake. She refused. Claimed it was against the law to serve someone after you’ve asked for ID if they can’t produce it. I was absolutely gobsmacked. Why do people just invent laws to suit themselves and save face?

I used to run a pub so I know very well the risks of serving someone underage but this was clearly just a misunderstanding followed by total jobsworth behaviour.

Yes it's to stop fuckwits intimidating the staff after being asked.

No Id and its out of their hands.

You want to complain your mp is your point of contact for governance not Carol down the supermarket.

Elsewyre · 15/08/2020 23:55

@Wishforsnow

It's a bit ridiculous they clearly can't tell ages and like to have some mickey mouse authority. I've noticed similar stories in the news and they always seem to be in the North of the country, no idea why just always seem to be.

You do understand that if you serve someone after asking them for id and they say they dont have it, you're going to be losing your job if that person is there auditing the store right?

On Monday when you're in work commit some gross misconduct ideally illegal activity too. I'm sure you're boss will totally accommodating for you....

SquirtleSquad · 15/08/2020 23:58

They aren't inventing any laws OP, they are absolutely correct

CorianderLord · 15/08/2020 23:59

@BackforGood it's ask 30 now I'm 25 and still get IDd for nail glue and sometimes red bull

IHaveBrilloHair · 16/08/2020 00:02

Its pain, but she's right.

Original poster

untiednations · 16/08/2020 00:03

It’s absolutely not the law that the member of staff couldn’t back down when she realised she’d made a mistake.

She and I have made small talk at the checkout before because we both have children with the same name. I was wearing a mask so she probably didn’t realise this to begin with but by the end of our interaction she definitely realised who I was.

OP posts:

Twigletfairy · 16/08/2020 00:13

Perhaps it's store policy?

I'm sure they didn't do it just for shits and giggles.

Igotthemheavyboobs · 16/08/2020 00:14

I got id'd and then refused hair mouse once, I was 17 and they said I had to be over 18 to buy it. My head is a mass of ringlets, what did they think I was going to do with it?

They did let me buy lighters and rizla paper though.

amy85 · 16/08/2020 00:24

She was doing her job!!!! Anyone who has worked in a shop selling alcohol knows that once id is asked for then you can only sell the alcohol if id is shown...thems are the rules...and it's made very clear if we don't stick to them we end up in big trouble

The wearing of masks, while completely essential, is making it harder for shop workers to guess shoppers ages

malmi · 16/08/2020 00:25

If you get asked for ID then you show ID. You don't talk yourself out of it and then no doubt get shirty when you don't get your way. Check out operators aren't given leeway. You're asking them to risk their jobs when you try this. "It's the law" is a face saver but it's your face being saved! "I'm not willing to risk my job for your bottle of gin, I don't care who you went to school with" is what she wanted to say.

Pretenditsaplan · 16/08/2020 00:39

It really is the law if youve asked for id and they cant produce it. Even if you realise who they are or theyre age afterwards you get fines both the store the actual cashier personally. It happened to me once a woman who was short then me (im tiny to begin with) came in and she had one of those faces so could be 17 or she could be 40. Turns out she was 42. Unfortunately as id asked her for id even though my manager confirmed shes a regular i couldnt serve her legally. And when her partner came in with id he said in front of me. Dont worry ill buy them for you. That then classes as buying alcohol for sokeone without id. Again fones for the store and the individual cashier. I was on my 3rd week. My mamager took over and after 45 minutes of back and forth bent but i refused to have my name on that transaction as if it was a stong operation (there had been several in the weeks running up to that) i as a part time seasonal staff wouldnt of made enough in my entire time there to vover my personal fine. They were not happy but i just referrred them back to the training they gave 18 days before. She put in a vomplaint but it was a factual complaint and my manager got written up for serving her aftwr she couldnt produce id and her partner admitted he was buyijg it on her behalf