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AIBU?

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Original poster

ID'd for over the counter medication

63 replies

Cateyes113 · 27/03/2022 19:40

At Superdrug pharmacy.. asked if it was for myself, I said yes. Then the woman on the counter said, 'Sorry but I'll need to see your ID as you look really young.'
I'm 31, and laughed.
Afterwards I just thought, oh come on, I am clearly over 18.
Anyone else had this? If it were the alcohol under 25 thing ok but I thought this was a little ridiculous

OP posts:
Sortilege · 27/03/2022 19:59

Some people can’t budge age well, and the penalties are high for shop staff getting it wrong.

It used to drive me mad, as I have a childish moon face, but I miss it now. At least you know you don’t look middle aged while they’re IDing you in your thirties.

Original poster
Cateyes113 · 27/03/2022 20:00

Agree it's not worth them losing their jobs over it

OP posts:
yellowsuninthesky · 27/03/2022 20:09

@Cateyes113

I didn't say it was hard , I just said it's a bit ridiculous she could think i was under 18.
I think the age for medicine is actually 16 so even sillier!
ChloeHel · 27/03/2022 20:17

As a pharmacist we don’t often need to ID as it isn't challenge 25 with OTC meds unless it’s sleeping tablets or laxatives. So if it was one of them that is probably why you may have been asked! It’s so hard working in a pharmacy because we have so many guidelines to follow and are just looking out for the person but people think we are doing it to be a nuisance.

I was asked for ID a few months ago for Ibuprofen in Waitrose..I’m 30 and I’m sure I look over 16 haha. I just gave it to her and she laughed and apologised! Always take it as a compliment :)

ChloeHel · 27/03/2022 20:25

“ I think the age for medicine is actually 16 so even sillier!”

Believe it or not there actually isn’t a legal age limit. It depends on the shops policies. But for most things it’s 16, if it contains codeine then it’s 18. It’s all down to our discretion.

Calandor · 27/03/2022 20:55

I've been IDd for Red Bull, none alcoholic beer and scissors 😂 I'm 26 and just get on with it at this point

LittleSundayTeatime · 27/03/2022 21:00

Last time I was ID’d for some lemsip i simply showed ID. They’re required to do this by law. It’s a legal requirement of their job and if they don’t do it, they get sacked. Just show ID.

No, it isn't a legal requirement at all. While I have sympathy for staff having to follow company guidelines, it it not illegal for them to not ID someone. They could get sacked for not following company guidelines but not for not ID'ing someone.

Purplelion · 27/03/2022 21:20

@LittleSundayTeatime

Last time I was ID’d for some lemsip i simply showed ID. They’re required to do this by law. It’s a legal requirement of their job and if they don’t do it, they get sacked. Just show ID.

No, it isn't a legal requirement at all. While I have sympathy for staff having to follow company guidelines, it it not illegal for them to not ID someone. They could get sacked for not following company guidelines but not for not ID'ing someone.

It may not be illegal to not ID someone, but it is illegal to serve some under the age that they need to be to buy the product. I work at a supermarket and I would always rather ID someone that risk losing my job and being fined.
Idiotintraining · 28/03/2022 07:53

When I worked in a supermarket some drugs were age appropriate so had to be 18 plus as they were higher strenght

pilates · 30/03/2022 06:00

Op, have some cake 🍰

RockingAFrock · 30/03/2022 06:08

@pilates

Op, have some cake 🍰
Bravo 👏 @pilates
esloquehay · 30/03/2022 06:10

I miss the days of being ID-ed.
Despite being tall and broad (for a female!), I always looked really 'young'.
Then I had children and went totally grey within a year!

EricScrantona · 30/03/2022 06:14

I'm a little older than you but get ID'd every so often. I don't generally carry a bag/my ID or cards so I'm old enough that when I go "really? I'm 35" they just let me off.

I would say I feel the same as you about it. Technically it's a non event but it could be an inconvenience and it does make me chuckle/eye roll each time.

SailingNotSurfing · 30/03/2022 14:12

My son hates that in his retail job, he has to ID everyone. He says he hates the subconscious preening that women do, and internally rolls his eyes at their vanity, in thinking they genuinely look incredibly young 😂😂😂

Thoosa · 30/03/2022 15:53

He sounds horrible.

seadreams · 30/03/2022 16:19

I got ID'd buying Imodium last week. To be fair I'm only 23 but I rarely if ever get ID'd and I thought it was hilarious. It's not even pain relief and it's suitable for 12 and up. I had to go digging in my bag though because I wasn't expecting it

Namelessnancy · 30/03/2022 16:26

To repeat a couple of previous posters it really is not the same as alcohol sales where it is a legal requirement with strict penalties. The age limits set for OTC medications are store policy, not law.

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

moonbedazzled · 30/03/2022 16:26

I remember going to a video store and being asked for ID to rent an 18 film. I was 29. Its one of my happest memories. Ruined by my DH asking if she had a guide dog behind the counter! 😏

I don't have any proof of age that I carry with me. Sadly I don't need it anymore. 😥

georgarina · 30/03/2022 16:29

Yeah normally it's fine. I had one at my local Tesco ask me for ID on an energy drink and the other cashiers were giving funny looks (I'm 30) and he said never mind.

HunterHearstHelmsley · 30/03/2022 16:35

I got ID'd loads when we had to wear masks. I must have an old mouth as rarely do without a mask on!

I usually don't mind being ID'd but agree with a poster upthread that some just do it to be annoying. Someone I used to work with 17 years ago kept asking me for ID. He knows exactly how old I am, he was just being a twat about it.

taylorsdoingapart · 30/03/2022 16:37

I've been asked for photo id in The Range this morning when I bought some shelves. I didn't have any and they wouldn't let me buy them. 🤷‍♀️

Dahlia444 · 30/03/2022 16:43

My DS(15) was asked for ID to buy spray deodorant in Boots - they said he had to be over 16. I looked for info online and it is store policy rather than any legal issue. It might help if stores would advertise these policies as it isn't displayed anywhere for the average shopper to see. He was doing his best to be independent and look after his hygiene! As it was he went next door to co op and bought it unchallenged.

Maverickess · 30/03/2022 16:49

[quote Namelessnancy]To repeat a couple of previous posters it really is not the same as alcohol sales where it is a legal requirement with strict penalties. The age limits set for OTC medications are store policy, not law.

www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/childrens-health/what-age-can-children-buy-over-the-counter-otc-medicines/[/quote]
I think there's a big push for companies to appear to be responsible traders around anything that could be abused or used for things other than the intended purpose, like the restrictions on buying so many paracetamol in one purchase, or being 16 to buy an energy drink.
If someone suffers a heart attack from too many energy drinks, and happens to be under 16, there's always an element of "Well where did they get them from?" I think a lot of the ott policies are retailers trying to avoid the blame in these scenarios, and the shop staff the ones who have to enforce the policy.
Certainly around alcohol, the premises and the person who actually sold the alcohol are subject to more repercussions should anything go wrong, than the person who bought it.

Namelessnancy · 30/03/2022 16:53

@Maverickess I completely agree the pressure on stores to be responsible is the driving force. It's generally pretty understandable too although in the case of OTC medications I wonder if it poses a problem where children and young people are acting as carers. That's a whole other problem to solve though.

Chouetted · 30/03/2022 16:57

It's really not the law. I once got refused paracetamol because I had no id. I had a killer toothache, so went and cried all over a very patient assistant at the pharmacy next door instead, who explained the (lack of a) law and sold me as much as I wanted.