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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think challenge 25 rules can be silly.

118 replies

Balleu · 15/12/2020 09:54

I used to work in a supermarket before I went to uni and I would regularly help on checkouts despite mostly working on the shop floor.
I saw a lady getting ID'd today for buying alcohol with her teenage daughter.
The lady was refused as her teenage daughter had no ID.

But it got me thinking about the challenge 25 training I had and the ridiculousness of the 'rulezzzz'

For example,
I remember being told to ID even those who work in the shop who are older than 18 but don't look it.

For example, on produce there were young males who were between 18-19. Whenever they came to my till, I had to use the same line
"Sorry I know you're over 18 but I have to ask for ID because you look under 25".

And this was the same with people I knew in everyday life. So an old schoolfriend came in, I knew he was 20 but had to apologise and ask because he looked under 25. Even though I knew he was over 18!

And also, I was on checkout sometimes but not often, so therefore I didn't have many opportunities to ID people as I was mainly on the shop floor.
Nevertheless, I had a scalding off the checkout supervisor as it came up that I had "only" ID'd 4 people in a month (we have an individual checkout number to signin when going on the tills which keeps track).
I explained to him that i've rarely been called onto the tills and clearly when I was on the till I didn't feel the need to ID anybody.
But apparantly this wasn't good enough and I was told to start IDing more peopleHmm

AIBU to think that, yes of course there are big fines associated with mistakes, but often challenge 25 rules are over the top?

OP posts:
Juk3 · 15/12/2020 12:32

I got asked for ID last week to buy Christmas Crackers which I had no idea were an age restricted product. I'm 40 by the way and had my 14, 11 and 8 year old kids with me who thought it hilarious that the cashier thought I was under 25 and couldn't wait to tell their dad when we got home. After I produced my license she still kept going on about how I looked under 25 and she can't believe I'm 40.

BarbaraofSeville · 15/12/2020 12:36

@hula008

Some of the situations I had to manage as a shop worker:

"I know they're 18" yes you might but the 22 year old in the queue behind them might not.

"I know they're 18" I've been to the pub with them, but they used a fake ID to get in.

"I know they're 18" I went to school with them but they were a few months below me.

Challenge 25 is to protect the workers. Just carry ID with you if you wish to purchase age restricted items I can't see the issue, honestly.

If a staff member misinterprets the (honestly vague and difficult to interpret) rules they are asked to implement and refuses the same, I'll just go in later with ID, or sans teenager.

The staff need a framework. If it's just "ID whoever you think is under 18" it leaves room for error and misunderstanding.

It's none of the business what the 22 YO in the queue behind the person in question thinks, that's a totally different matter. The checkout person makes a decision based on each person in turn.

Plus it shouldn't be beyond the capability of a functioning adult to judge the reliability of the information they're using to make their decision.

When people are saying that they know someone is over 18, it's usually on very reliable evidence, eg the cashier is 22 and they were in the same year at school, or they're a close friend or relation and will have had multiple birthdays in their time knowing each other. Or someone passed their driving test more than a year ago. Not 'we were in the pub together a couple of times'.

slashlover · 15/12/2020 12:38

The ID everyone is to show consistency and in case anyone in the queue is watching and to stop arguments of "Well you didn't ID him so why are you IDing me?"

Eleganz · 15/12/2020 12:39

I take my driving licence with me everywhere so it doesn't really bother me although I'd be unimpressed if I had a teen child with me and was refused a sale because they didnt have ID.

Pukkatea · 15/12/2020 12:45

I can't even count the number of people in the queue who used to make it their business to double check I'd not served someone underage because they had decided they didn't look 18. Usually older women who call everyone under 40 'a baby'.

And yes, being shouted at regularly by someone you ID because they think they look older than someone you just served ahead of them without challenging, very tiring.

RB68 · 15/12/2020 12:47

Maybe if you are buying alcohol you should just provide ID end of none of this pick who you ask etc. And its the person paying for it that is ID'd and not the family members with them or if we got used to it send child away whilst paying and that then removes the issue but yes that one of I am not selling it to you as you have teenagers with you business is crazy - surely if you are buying for them you wouldn't have them near you in case etc - but also blow me alcohol at home is an entirely different matter for age etc. Its once again annoying law abiding citizens for those few that buy on behalf of those badgering them outside a supermarket and I am not convinced that is still an issue and if it is then it would be more helpful for staff outside to move those kids along etc

Stellaris22 · 15/12/2020 12:48

What I find really great are the people who have their ID ready because they know they'll get challenged, I love those customers as it makes the whole process a lot less stressful.

Stellaris22 · 15/12/2020 12:50

Maybe other supermarket have stricter training guidance, but where I am we're given extensive training on Challenge 25. If it's clearly a parent with an older child we don't need to ID the young adult/teenager.

dramallama7 · 15/12/2020 12:52

I agree. I sometimes get id'd, not always though. My DP on the other hand who is 30, gets asked for id every time without fail, he has even been asked for id for a lottery ticket.

PillowPrincess · 15/12/2020 12:54

Everyone should provide ID it's so cringe being ID'd at co op when i'm in my 30s. I can feel the customers behind me smirking and judging. Sometimes the shops assistants would come and say why are you IDing her. Fuck off.

TerribleLizard · 15/12/2020 13:53

I’m mid 30s, and get asked for ID all the time. I definitely don’t think I look 24, I’m just short. I wouldn’t bother trying to buy alcohol without ID, but I have been caught out with calpol. It’s not an age restricted product, so I had no idea the shop would have included it in challenge 25. The people on the tills 100% believed it was against the law to sell it to me without ID, so the training they received must have gone wrong somewhere. I don’t know why shops don’t make their policies more prominent - they have challenge 25 signage around the alcohol but not the painkillers.

Stores can have whatever policy they fancy, but if everyone adds in different products to challenge 25, it becomes confusing, as different stores have different policies. Challenge 25 is only really to do with alcohol, but individual retailers have added other products to it, which I think dilutes the message a bit.

At 35 I’d rather not show ID to prove I’m over 18 to buy a product that isn’t age restricted, because someone can’t tell if they think I look 24. But if a retailer is going to make me do that, they definitely shouldn’t let their staff believe it’s the law, rather than their own preference.

Suzi888 · 15/12/2020 13:59

I saw a lady getting ID'd today for buying alcohol with her teenage daughter.
The lady was refused as her teenage daughter had no IDConfused
My friend was refused because her DH didn’t have ID (she did) and she insisted on seeing a manager who told the cashier to carry on with the sale. On what basis are they refusing to serve if the person buying it has ID....

Stellaris22 · 15/12/2020 14:07

In these cases it's staff following rules they haven't created, don't blame staff.

If it's a group then we have to ID everyone. Person buying it could then be sharing the alcohol so we have a duty to not sell alcohol in those circumstances.

Yes, it's only one person buying it. But that person could then be sharing it with someone underage. Same with if we suspect the person of legal age is buying for someone underage.

PattyPan · 15/12/2020 14:12

@TerribleLizard maybe because it has paracetamol in? I know that for paracetamol tablets you have to be 16

TerribleLizard · 15/12/2020 14:17

@PattyPan

Paracetamol isn’t age restricted by law. It’s store policy, so some may say 16 and over, but operate challenge 25.

www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/childrens-health/what-age-can-children-buy-over-the-counter-otc-medicines/

dazzlinghaze · 15/12/2020 14:29

My friend was refused a box of lemsips because she didn't have ID on her. She was 26!

NoSleepInTheHeat · 15/12/2020 14:30

The part I find silly is a parent with a child (any age from baby to 17) being refused a sale because 'it could be for them'.
I just don't get it, if really they were buying for the underaged child they will just go to the next store and ask the child to wait somewhere while they pay. What am I missing??

DontStopThinkingAboutTomorrow · 15/12/2020 14:32

@NoSleepInTheHeat

The part I find silly is a parent with a child (any age from baby to 17) being refused a sale because 'it could be for them'. I just don't get it, if really they were buying for the underaged child they will just go to the next store and ask the child to wait somewhere while they pay. What am I missing??
And any child over the age of 5 is allowed to drink alcohol under supervision at home, anyway. So it's really not the stores business if you plan on allowing your 14 year old to drink that bottle of vodka when you get home (which isn't to say it's a good idea, but is legally allowed).
safariboot · 15/12/2020 14:39

YANBU.

As I see it, fundamentally it's forcing shop workers to do the police's job. Because our government can't be arsed to pay the police to.

Okbye · 15/12/2020 14:41

At least it's not like in America where they ID literally anyone who wants to buy alcohol or medication. I was ID'd (age 30) for buying cold/flu tablets over there - when they asked for ID I was very puzzled!

In a sports bar in Orlando I also witnessed them ID'ing a man who looked about 70! Bit of an overkill lol as he was quite obviously over 21!

safariboot · 15/12/2020 14:42

Also yes WTF is with restrictions on medicines? What is a teenager who's in pain supposed to do? (Consider that many have abusive parents who wouldn't give their child any medicine.)

Stellaris22 · 15/12/2020 14:43

It really is a lot more stressful working in a supermarket than most people realise.

We are effectively enforcing laws with no security or help. As if challenge 25 wasn't bad enough with all the scenarios that can happen (test shoppers, buying for someone underage) we also have to enforce mask wearing and monitoring numbers in store.

So please, please don't get angry at retail staff if you get ID'd. It's a cliche, but accept it as a compliment!

WhereverIGoddamnLike · 15/12/2020 14:46

I got stopped going into a pub in Edinburgh because it was after 7PM so bouncers on all the doors and I didnt have my ID on me (driver's license being renewed). I closely am older than 18 so didnt think it would matter. The bouncer said "could you just show me a card of any kind for the sake of the security camera, but hold it out in this direction and then I will let you in".
I found that very funny, but they must be getting watched!
I assume supermarkets would be similar and a manager might spot them not asking then they get in trouble.

PurpleHoodie · 15/12/2020 14:47

There ARE sensible lines that must be drawn in various aspects of law, however, #Commonsense
is thrown out the window far too often.

Legally AND factually.

WhereverIGoddamnLike · 15/12/2020 14:48

*clearly am not closely

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