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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be angry they didn't serve me?

309 replies

PinkRiceKrispies · 08/06/2023 18:07

I am 37 first of all.
Had a thumping headache due to the heat today so went to buy some paracetamol and picked up 2 boxes. Got to the till and she said 'Sorry, but do you have ID? I just wasn't sure if you were over 18.' I told her my age and she still wouldn't let me have them. Don't drive so didn't have a license on me either.
Aibu to be annoyed? I look very young for my age but this seems ridiculous.

OP posts:
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8
originalglazedsingle · 08/06/2023 18:58

Don't take it as a compliment, it's ridiculous. I got asked for ID when I look nothing like a 30 year old, let alone 18, it's rarely about age.

Take it as dealing with someone applying the rules strictly. Maybe they got in trouble for not asking earlier today, maybe they have been instructed to ask EVERYONE.

We should have an ID card in this country, life would be easier.

SeeingSpots · 08/06/2023 18:59

ComeOnWill · 08/06/2023 18:53

Does Challenge 25 apply in stores when there are no legal restrictions in place?

I assumed it was to stop older looking young teens buying age restricted items

Good question. I think most stores just lump it in with the medicines etc which is why it flags up at you needing ID but it's an interesting question since the product doesn't actually have an age limit restriction on it. By that logic you could apply challenge 25 to anything.

WestendVBroadway · 08/06/2023 18:59

I just thought you couldn't buy more than 2 packets whatever your age. My 22 year old DD wasn't allowed to buy disposable razors the other day, she didn't have her ID as it didn't occur to her to have it for a quick trip to Superdrug.

whynotwhatknot · 08/06/2023 19:00

i was id'dup intil about 39/40 i dont understand what youre supposed to do if you dont have a possp0ort or driving license though

Elphame · 08/06/2023 19:00

And this is why I took a trip to a US pharmacy to stock up before returning to the UK. Self-service till, no questions asked.

CurlyhairedAssassin · 08/06/2023 19:02

Do you have to get checked at th Tesco self-service checkouts? I don't recall ever having to do that for paracetamol.

Brefugee · 08/06/2023 19:02

ok so riddle me this (I still think the country is batshit - if you don't drive and you don't have a passport you're fucked if you get a headache?)

What is the thinking behind 25? that is 7 years over the age of legal majority. So either you are legally allowed to buy or not. So if you are going to check ID the age barrier should be 18. And you should have government ID. Or else the country just makes itself look even more daft than it does already.

slashlover · 08/06/2023 19:02

Challenge 25 has been in place since 2009, how can people not know about it?

I’d have asked to speak to someone else, any other member of staff would do. There’s no way there’s 2 people working in one shop that are stupid enough to not see that you were older.

Everywhere I've worked the rule has been that if person A refuses someone they person B, C and D must also refuse.

SeeingSpots · 08/06/2023 19:03

whynotwhatknot · 08/06/2023 19:00

i was id'dup intil about 39/40 i dont understand what youre supposed to do if you dont have a possp0ort or driving license though

You're expected to pay for one unfortunately which is a bloody privileged thing to have to do considering the costs involved.

I don't think there's anything else which would be deemed acceptable ID by most places.

Serena73 · 08/06/2023 19:03

You only have to be 16 to buy those items. I implement Challenge 25 in my job but unless I really thought you might be under 16 I wouldn't ask for ID. It's just poor judgement on the part of the assistant but if that happened to me at 37 I would probably laugh at first and then try again on another till!

DeflatedAgain · 08/06/2023 19:04

I was ID'd for some false nails in tkmaxx. You have to be 16 or over to buy them. I asked the cashier "do I look 15?" (I'm 30). They shrugged. I then had to show my ID to two different people.

It was unreal 😂

Sussexcricket · 08/06/2023 19:05

Do you have to get checked at th Tesco self-service checkouts? I don't recall ever having to do that for paracetamol

Yes you can't pay on a self serve till for restricted items until the staff member approves it

Aaaaandbreathe · 08/06/2023 19:06

LookWhosInsideAgain · 08/06/2023 18:41

I’m also 38 and, when out for dinner recently, the waiter asked me for ID when I ordered a glass of wine. I was about to start digging in my bag before I realised he was doing it as a little joke, like waiters sometimes do to grannies. I’d have much preferred if he was being genuine because I was fucking mortified 😭

I'm sorry but this made me laugh! (not at you, just the way you told it).

I'm the same age and the last time I was ID'd was about 3 years ago and I was thrilled. Sadly my frown lines have deepened much more since then!

To the PP who mentioned not being served alcohol when you are with your child - I totally agree! I sincerely doubt my 15 year old son would be getting me to buy a bottle of Prosecco on his behalf. Then they would have to wait outside which would make it look worse.

Notimeforaname · 08/06/2023 19:06

A 37 year old can not look 18 however hard they try.

Well a 35 year old can. I was refused a bottle of gin for the same reason op. My 33 year old partner fortunately had ID but they didn't believe he was over 25 so wanted to see it. In fairness he can't grow a beard for love nor money but still, you look young op. Get over it.

Hope you got some painkillers in the end!

Brefugee · 08/06/2023 19:08

I get why you can't buy more than 2 packs of paracetemol (even though it's irritating for me as it's cheaper in UK so i like to stock up. I buy paracetemol, iboprufen and feminax and i basically have to start on day 1 of my holiday and go to 2 shops a day so i can bring some back for me and my DDs)

And i understand the premise of the 25 thing (even though it's bullshit). But if there is a) no age restriction and b) you're not trying to by more than 2 packs of paracetemol, then it is actually laughable that some minimum wage cashier has to do this.

Anothnamechang · 08/06/2023 19:09

Im on the fence, it could risk both her and the shop if you were underage but I know how frustrating it is.

I once asked a 49 year old for id when I worked in a supermarket. She definitely did not look over 25, she took it well and called her husband there and then and asked me to confirm that she’d been asked for ID 🤣 she didn’t get the bottle of vodka as once you’ve refused you can’t backtrack, but she took great pride in being asked for it.

Where as I was asked for I’d for a party popper when I was 30 and was not best pleased. Not to mention my oldest who is almost my height was with me shouting mum can I have a magazine! I wouldn’t have said I look underage, all I looked was pregnant and shattered! 🤣

WiddlinDiddlin · 08/06/2023 19:11

I think some people are hard of thinking.

Simply challenging people who look under 18 was not effective, because lots of people look under 18 who are not, and lots of under 18s look much older.

So Challenge 25 - if you think someone looks under 25, you challenge them for ID - most over 18/under 25s will have id and looking over 25 if you are actually under 18 is much less likely.

It is not down to how old you know you are, its what the person selling you something intially THINKS and lots of people are really bad at this and lots of people are very very nervous (understandably given the fines and potential to lose their job!) about getting it wrong.

What would YOU do - risk getting it wrong and lose your job, just to not inconvenience someone who in most cases can either get someone else to buy it or can go get their ID? Or just piss someone off a bit and definitely not get sacked?

I know what I'd pick!

ComeOnWill · 08/06/2023 19:12

WiddlinDiddlin · 08/06/2023 19:11

I think some people are hard of thinking.

Simply challenging people who look under 18 was not effective, because lots of people look under 18 who are not, and lots of under 18s look much older.

So Challenge 25 - if you think someone looks under 25, you challenge them for ID - most over 18/under 25s will have id and looking over 25 if you are actually under 18 is much less likely.

It is not down to how old you know you are, its what the person selling you something intially THINKS and lots of people are really bad at this and lots of people are very very nervous (understandably given the fines and potential to lose their job!) about getting it wrong.

What would YOU do - risk getting it wrong and lose your job, just to not inconvenience someone who in most cases can either get someone else to buy it or can go get their ID? Or just piss someone off a bit and definitely not get sacked?

I know what I'd pick!

But there is no law so it doesn't apply here.

SeeingSpots · 08/06/2023 19:13

WiddlinDiddlin · 08/06/2023 19:11

I think some people are hard of thinking.

Simply challenging people who look under 18 was not effective, because lots of people look under 18 who are not, and lots of under 18s look much older.

So Challenge 25 - if you think someone looks under 25, you challenge them for ID - most over 18/under 25s will have id and looking over 25 if you are actually under 18 is much less likely.

It is not down to how old you know you are, its what the person selling you something intially THINKS and lots of people are really bad at this and lots of people are very very nervous (understandably given the fines and potential to lose their job!) about getting it wrong.

What would YOU do - risk getting it wrong and lose your job, just to not inconvenience someone who in most cases can either get someone else to buy it or can go get their ID? Or just piss someone off a bit and definitely not get sacked?

I know what I'd pick!

But paracetamol isn't by law an age restricted product so why does it need to come under challenge 25?

toomuchfaster · 08/06/2023 19:13

@MargotBamborough actually you have to be 16 legally to buy it and I couldn't be sure she was. Definitely not loosing my job over it.

InSpainTheRain · 08/06/2023 19:16

I am 58 I got asked for ID the other day whilst buy a small sewing kit. I just handed over my license and said nothing but I was a bit WTF inside. Perhaps OP should get a provisional license to use as ID?

PolkadotsAndMoonbeams · 08/06/2023 19:17

My local corner supermarket asks your age if they're sure you're over 18th but under 25. Then they only ask for ID if you say an age under 25.

I asked why, and they said it's because secret shoppers aren't allowed to lie about age, and it means that anybody over 25 without ID can buy. Apparently they were losing money by not being able to serve over 25s they'd asked for ID if they didn't have it (big alcohol section). People 18-25 are more likely to carry ID because they know they might be asked.

Denise82 · 08/06/2023 19:18

PinkRiceKrispies · 08/06/2023 18:10

A 37 year old can not look 18 however hard they try.

But you literally just said in your op that you "look very young for your age"

Badbudgeter · 08/06/2023 19:19

AnonyMenOhPee · 08/06/2023 18:33

Once they’ve asked you for ID I don’t think they’re allowed to backtrack even if they stare a bit harder at your face and realise you might be 37 after all

I was buying wine in a grocery shop and the young woman scanned it through and without looking up said have you got any ID. I said no, she looked at me hit the over 25 button and said that’s fine.

Verystressedsenmum · 08/06/2023 19:19

I agree with op a 37 year old does not look under 18 .
and yes it may be challenge 25 but that’s if you think someone is underage ie under 25 then you ask . The op may get away with being 25 but seriously under 18 have a bit of common sense and get to grip with the law you are not breaking the law If you sell to a 37 year old woman who you think possibly may be around 25 .
this is what’s wrong with this country no common sense .
also it’s 16 to buy pain relief so op you look like a school child too .