To be angry they didn't serve me?

[PinkRiceKrispies]

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.

Ffs, it was not meant to offend anyone who looks their age or older (me included). As someone who has lost far too many people at too young an age, I know just as well as anyone what a privilege it is to grow old. I don't give a fuck if you look 20 or 80, whatever age you are. But for those who are getting on their high horse about 'take it as a conpliment' comments, you need to get a grip. Absolutely nobody is trying to be offensive except those of you who are pulling us up on it and making out we don't know the value of life. Don't be so bloody patronising

I’m 40 and mum to two kids. Whilst I definitely think I don’t look my age there is absolutely no way I look 25.

I got ID’d about 2 years ago. The girl quickly realised her mistake when she noticed how delighted I was, explaining that she’d made my day 🤣

Yep, that’s a weird one too. I was refused a drink in a football stadium once too, because I was with my kids!

This happens to me a lot as well, I’m early forties. I have a disability so am unable to renew my license but it was one year out of date. I could not get a new one if i tried.

I showed the woman, said it’s still ID, my birthdate hasn’t changed. Wouldn’t accept it. On one small bottle of Prosecco, a birthday card and a birthday gift bag. So it’s not like I looked like I was going on the lash. Several managers agreed I couldn’t buy the thing and should carry my passport around on the off chance I need to buy a gift for someone.

Am not disputung that's what they said, but there is no reference anywhere to this law - everything states no restriction.

If a 16 year old has to pay for a prescription can they have paracetamol?

Yes there is, it's 16.

You don't need a passport or full drivers licence, a provisional is acceptable. Military i.d is also accepted as is a citizencard.

Paracetamol come up as Challenge 25 so that is what the cashier has to do.

Most people carry their I.d in their phone between the back and the cover.

Two packs may have made it more of an issue. Shops have to be careful with that stuff.

I used to work in a supermarket and hated having to ask people for ID but it's part of the job. Especially when people get huffy because they don't have any ID on them. The number of times I've been shouted and called names because an apparently grown adult can't follow the rules is ridiculous. It can also be quite difficult to guess somebody's age, the youngest person I'd I'D was 18 that day, the oldest was almost 40! There were also people that I refused sale as they didn't have ID who I'd seen later on with their parents wearing their school uniform! I don't know if it's an actual law but if its store policy you won't get it without ID. I was very surprised to find out that you have to be 12 to buy Xmas crackers! But everything that was age restricted was challenge 25, whether that be alcohol, fireworks, crackers or a bloody toddlers cutlery set! Because it contained a knife of course. Also had a few arguments about energy drinks which I believe isn't an actual law but was an agreement between supermarkets so you had to be 16 to buy (and it was also challenge 25).

We used to get test purchases all the time. You wouldn't know who they were, they could be in their own just buying 1 thing or as part of a group buying a huge shop. Not long before I started somebody in our store failed a test purchase. The manager at the time felt it was unfair because the guy had tattoos and a big beard and they both thought he looked over 25 but he was actually only 23 so should've been asked for ID. The staff member narrowly avoided losing his job and the store was in hot water, they had visits from the licensing board and could've lost their license to sell alcohol.

If you don't have a license/provisional or passport then you get one. You need them for far more than buying age restricted products, I've needed mine in my last 3 jobs to prove my right to work in the UK, and I was born here and have never even been abroad! I know it's crap because when I turned 18 I had neither, I was living in a homeless flat after leaving care on JSA so it took me a really long time to save up the £50 odd needed for a provisional and the £80 odd needed for a passport but I knew that's how it was! I also looked really young (still do at 31 and get id'd all the time) so there was no chance of being sold alcohol without it! I was 19 before I managed to get them and was actually able to buy it or go to the pub!

TLDR: No, I don't think the cashier should've potentially lost their job to sell you an age restricted product when you didn't have ID, regardless of your age.

Actually it's 16 in UK.

There is - the legal limit is 16 though not 18.

The problem is that the supermarkets have a blanket policy that uses the "challenge 25" approach for everything because they know that they aren't employing people who have common sense and good discretion so they can't rely on those things. Therefore it doesn't matter what the law says, the person on the till will lose their job if they don't abide by "Challenge 25" and a 37 year old can definitely look under 25.

For those who think there is a legal age limit of 16 could you point to the source for this. And then tell the NHS who don’t agree with you.

Companies may choose to only sell to over 15s but that’s not a law.

Retail shops might have policy but there isn't a legal age restriction on paracetamol or any other medicine.

Yes, it's definitely not the law.

My 14 yo has bought painkillers before. I also sent her in to pay for fuel a few days ago as I’m disabled. Didn’t occur to me til after that this was illegal.

I’m 32 and got ID’d buying some beers in M&S a month ago. I’m still talking about it now, I was both pleased and annoyed in equal amounts 😂

For paracetamol I would’ve been much less amused I reckon though.

Hmmm well my 16 year old was allowed to buy calpol the other day.

I don't understand why people moan about this. Take ID with you when you go shopping, don't complain when the poor shop worker does their job. If you think it's a stupid rule, open your own shop and sell anything to anyone, no ID required, see how long you remain in business.

No mention of paracetamol here and there's a big list. It's part of guidance for shops by a large city council. Updated March 2023. Paracetamol is NOT age restricted.

Although wtf is serpents listed 😮
https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/info/20108/trading_standards/355/underage_sales_restrictions/3

Was it in Boots? I got ID’d for buying scissors and didn’t have anything on me - I’m 40!

I also had to buy low-dose aspirin and the lady asked me five times if I was pregnant as she said she couldn’t sell it to me if I was. I don’t mind her asking once, but she went on and on!!

So by your logic you should ID if your going to buy a hairbrush or a toy car or some bread? Paracetamol is not an age restricted item so why should everyone take ID with them everytime they leave the house on the off chance they get a headache.

I once id'd a lady who was about to turn 52. She honestly looked around 22. We had a good laugh about it.

She could lose her job or even end up in jail for selling an age restricted product. Once we ask for id we cannot then sell you it without any. Anyone who does like the lady above who explained she doesn't carry id is breaking the law.

Why 25? I thought alcohol and cigarettes were 18. Surely paracetamol would be 16? I don’t understand where 25 came from.

because they know that they aren't employing people who have common sense and good discretion so they can't rely on those things.

What a nasty person you are.

Challenge 25 has been around since 2009. If you look under 25 you will be asked for ID as a cushion for staff. 17 year olds can easily look 18, it's more difficult for them to look 25.