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AIBU?

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Original poster

Asked for ID

158 replies

untiednations · 15/08/2020 23:27

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.

OP posts:
WatchingFromTheWings · 16/08/2020 09:30

@Ethelfleda

DD1 was also refused a bottle of wine after she had produced ID, as the cashier said triumphantly “that she wasn’t 25.” If you’re going to implement “check 25”, at least tell your staff what it means

Haha! What an idiot that cashier was!!

Yeah that was wrong! Once she proved she was old enough for the wine it doesn't matter if she's under 25.....she proved she was legally able to purchase it!
Angelmonkey · 16/08/2020 09:32

Recently in a supermarket I was asked for ID, and was told they had to ask everybody at the moment because of masks making it difficult for them to judge age accurately

Chanjer · 16/08/2020 09:33

It will be pretty clear that a 34 yr old regular shopper is not U18

Also a potential mystery customer doing compliance checks

MrsSchadenfreude · 16/08/2020 09:34

It is difficult to have ID if you’re younger. Not everyone has a passport or driving licence. DD1 has a proof of age card issued by Lambeth council, but has been told by shops that this isn’t proof of ID or age. So what should younger people use?

Chanjer · 16/08/2020 09:36

That council ID card is acceptable proof. The local council should be doing more to advertise that fact

BridgeFarmKefir · 16/08/2020 09:36

My brother works in a supermarket and served someone underage once (police had deliberately sent them in). He was fined, the supermarket was fined and he was disciplined. The cashier was absolutely right to ask for your ID, and then not serve you.

SchrodingersImmigrant · 16/08/2020 09:42

@MrsSchadenfreude

It is difficult to have ID if you’re younger. Not everyone has a passport or driving licence. DD1 has a proof of age card issued by Lambeth council, but has been told by shops that this isn’t proof of ID or age. So what should younger people use?
Provisional driving licence is better afaik. Pass isn't that popular so some shops and pubs are careful about it
Goyle · 16/08/2020 09:45

I've always looked younger than my age. Decades ago I was out with my brother and his friends at a bowling alley. I was 22 and my brother and his mates were 18/19. I tried buying a round of bottled beers and was told to jog on. I didn't have any any ID. I got my brother's mate to get the round in and there was no problem. He had ID. The staff member asked how old I was to my brother's friend. "She's my mate's big sister." The staff member didn't believe him! More recently, a colleague couldn't believe I was in my 40s despite the grey hair and wrinkles Wink. I have a provisional license now (can't pass my test) just in case.

Chanjer · 16/08/2020 09:48

When you could buy cigs at 16 I used to have to get them for my sister who was 21 and I was only 15 Grin

riotlady · 16/08/2020 09:54

God you sound like a right moaner. This happened to me recently, I took it as a complement to me and my skincare regime!

QueenCT · 16/08/2020 10:12

When you could buy cigarettes at 16, I drove into a petrol station, filled my car up. Refused cigarettes Confused
I did point out I was at least 17 given I had just driven in...

Runnerduck34 · 16/08/2020 10:14

Wish it wasnt clear I was over 18😆
( With or without mask!)
Having said that I can see it would also be really annoying and frustrating,it should be obvious even with mask if someone is 35 or 18

StrawberrySquash · 16/08/2020 10:14

It's stupid, in that the law has got so full on and authoritarian that people of all ages get refused booze. But she was right once she's asked, she has to see ID. But it's gone too far. And individual staff risk huge fines which are utterly disproportionate to their income. They are doing this because they are scared.

Iminaglasscaseofemotion · 16/08/2020 10:19

They take it a bit far sometimes. I was refused cutlery because there ware dinner knifes in the pack! I was about 26.

NiceLegsShameAboutTheFace · 16/08/2020 10:20

Others have posted that once you are asked, it’s either produce ID or be rushed a sale. The cashier has no discretion, the only person not backing down after being informed of their mistake, is you.

Indeed, others have posted but ..... are they factually correct? There's a shed load of shit posted on here about legal matters Blush

I'm not a legal eagle so I don't know but I can't find any evidence to suggest that a cashier isn't able to change their mind should they realise they've made an obvious error.

Chanjer · 16/08/2020 10:23

I don't know if it's law but it's our company policy (independent) that once someone has asked then you have to produce it

We'd not override a cashier

Willow2017 · 16/08/2020 12:10

If we are found to be breaking the rule we face a £60 fine.
We have regular mystery shoppers in store and the licensing body and the police use plants who look younger than 25 at times too.

The manager who holds the license for that day will also face charges and if it happens regularly the store can lose its liquor license.

I am not risking that for anyone.

I have had positive feedback from mystery shoppers so no way would I risk it. We had regular customers who looked younger who always had thier I.d. ready at the till it takes 1 minute to input thier d.o.b into the till. No fuss no whinging.

Why would you expect someone to risk thier job for you?

VettiyaIruken · 16/08/2020 12:13

She's a cashier. Do you think for a second she is in control of store policy or the law?

Since it may actually be her job at stake, you just have to suck it up. She has to follow the rules or risk her job. Your bottle of gin isn't worth that.

ILoveFood87 · 16/08/2020 12:19

I got asked for ID and said are you joking I'm in my 30s, the guy went 'OK' and let me buy the wine 😂

ILoveFood87 · 16/08/2020 12:21

Also my mums friend works in sainsburys and I got ID'd and was on the next till. I didn't have any on my but said I knew mums friend on next till. She confirmed I'm old and they let me buy the alcohol.

ILoveFood87 · 16/08/2020 12:22

She was serving on the next till that should have said

CouldBeOuting · 16/08/2020 12:45

I haven’t been asked for ID for a long time but if I was refused service just because I had a minor with me then I would leave the rest of the shopping too. It is NOT against the law to buy alcohol when your children are with you.

My only photo ID is my passport and I will not carry that with me ... far too expensive to replace. If my over 50 year old face isn’t enough for any particular establishment then I will simply go elsewhere.

The last time I was asked for ID it was at a pub. I only had my paper driving licence on me. One of the other bar staff told the (New) landlady “she’s alright, she used to work here back in the 90s”. My licence was refused. Unfortunately for that pub it meant that the 20 other people in my group all left with me! I was 45 and the oldest person in my party!

The law is the law and I usually support it .. but not when it is being incorrectly applied by idiots!

AnneElliott · 16/08/2020 12:54

What the cashier said is wrong - there's nothing in the Licensing Act 2003 that says they can't change their mind after asking for ID.

However it could be a condition of their licence which the store will be keen to retain. It's also likely to be store policy which the cashier can be fired for not following.

I know it's frustrating if you're over age and can't prove it. I once got asked for ID when buying a wine and Stilton set at Christmas. I was 32 years old - but I had to come back later with my driving licence to buy it.

bobbiester · 16/08/2020 13:01

What the cashier said is wrong - there's nothing in the Licensing Act 2003 that says they can't change their mind after asking for ID.

Absolutely correct - it is not an offence to sell alcohol to a 34 year old who does not show ID.

I think confusion may have arisen (in the thread) because, while it is an offence to sell alcohol to someone under 18, it is a defence for the person who sold alcohol to a young person to show that they believed the young person was over 18 and that they had taken steps to verify the persons age or no-one could reasonably have suspected the person was under 18.

So if the OP had been under 18, the fact that the cashier asked for ID and was not shown it - means that the defence of reasonable belief that the person over 18 would no longer apply. By asking for ID they had already shown they had a reasonable suspicion that the person was under 18.

However, that's all irrelevant if the person is actually 34!!!

Willow2017 · 16/08/2020 13:05

What the cashier said is wrong - there's nothing in the Licensing Act 2003 that says they can't change their mind after asking for ID.

Once you have hit the 'I.D. button on a till you cannot proceed with a sale until you input the d.o.b. It's not a case of the cashier can change her mind it's the fact that you have asked and you have to follow it through.

Again nobody us going to risk thier livelihood over someone else's alcohol. It's not like mystery shoppers have a badge proclaiming who they are!