Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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:
Thread gallery
8
Brefugee · 08/06/2023 21:32

For those of you saying that this country doesn't require you to have ID, technically you're correct but anyone applying for certain jobs, both as employees and volunteers, it is essential to have 3 pieces of ID, at least one photographic and one proof of address, for purposes of DBS and right to work checks.

again, the country is batshit. You have no mandated ID and you don't have to register where you live.

So how do you prove this? If you, say, are 35 and you don't drive or have a passport and you live with your parents because you help your mum care for your dad so all utility bills are in their name, and you have an online banking account, and your cellphone bill is all email.

How do you prove all that?

ThickSkinnedSoWhat · 08/06/2023 21:32

highlandspooce · 08/06/2023 21:24

If you had a thumping headache and were refused paracetamol I'm sure you would 'whinge' about it.

Show quote history

I have a medicine cabinet which always has paracetamol in it so that, should I take ill, its already there. So no. In my circumstances this wouldn't apply.

rugbychick1 · 08/06/2023 21:33

I've been ID'd for alcohol twice in my 30's, the last time I was age 37. Took it as a compliment. Don't get asked now I'm early 50's

DiaNaranja · 08/06/2023 21:34

You say you look young for your age, and if the store was using the challenge 25 policy, the cashier was just doing their job. If they thought you could have been 23-24 and didn't ask you to prove your age, they could then lose their job. Stores that adopt challenge 25, get "test purchasers" who regularly come into the shop and check that staff are following procedures. The test purchasers will be of legal age to buy the product, but always under 25, and if the staff member fails to follow policy, they can be dismissed for gross misconduct. Yes it's a pain in the ass, but the policy is there, in place to stop underage sales happening. If everyone just used their judgement as to if someone looks over 16/18, there would be alot more under age sales going through as assessing age can be very subjective, which is why challenge 25 adds that level of protection for the staff, and the public. And the test purchasers are always a possibility, to ensure the policy is being followed and staff aren't getting lapse in their judgement. It's all for a good reason, as frustrating as it can be.

Brefugee · 08/06/2023 21:34

cocksstrideintheevening · 08/06/2023 21:28

Standard isn't it to prevent od.

You could have just bought one box?

op wasn't allowed to buy any box.

Cookiemonstersnana · 08/06/2023 21:36

Damn I bought some paracetamol today and no one ID me.
Perhaps it's because I'm 63.

stingypeasant · 08/06/2023 21:38

Biglumpycustard · 08/06/2023 18:31

I’m 42 and I look really young. I would be shocked if I didn’t get asked for id. I wished I looked my age. I also have 2 adult children.

You think you look under 18? I doubt it.

Precipice · 08/06/2023 21:39

toomuchfaster · 08/06/2023 19:50

@ComeOnWill no, we don't learn the detail of the law being made. Just what the law is and we have to keep to it.
And prescriptions are a different law, it's not a purchase.

If that's the case, you're not learning what the law is.

But it's not surprising - you see a lot of nonsense, not only from individuals but also organisations, misrepresenting the law. Can't do much for random people's comments, but at least for those representing a company or organisation, if they had to refer to statutory law to back up their claims, you'd see less nonsense branded about.

slashlover · 08/06/2023 21:41

stingypeasant · 08/06/2023 21:38

You think you look under 18? I doubt it.

Show quote history

Challenge 25 has been policy for most shops since 2009, have you really never seen or heard of it?

chezpopbang · 08/06/2023 21:42

PinkRiceKrispies · 08/06/2023 18:10

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

But it's not look 18. It's look 25 or less. If they have any doubt it is easier to ID. I'd say get some and always carry it with you.

Brefugee · 08/06/2023 21:46

"just get ID" even the citizen card is expensive for some, though.
If you don't have mandated ID, it is totally over the top to demand it.

highlandspooce · 08/06/2023 21:46

@ThickSkinnedSoWhat

I have a medicine cabinet which always has paracetamol in it so that, should I take ill, its already there. So no. In my circumstances this wouldn't apply.

Ah I thought you would come back with a not at all smart reply.

You ignored the point of my comment which was if you needed the paracetamol and the shop refused to sell you them in the same circumstances as OP, you would also 'whinge' about it.

MargotBamborough · 08/06/2023 21:47

DiaNaranja · 08/06/2023 21:34

You say you look young for your age, and if the store was using the challenge 25 policy, the cashier was just doing their job. If they thought you could have been 23-24 and didn't ask you to prove your age, they could then lose their job. Stores that adopt challenge 25, get "test purchasers" who regularly come into the shop and check that staff are following procedures. The test purchasers will be of legal age to buy the product, but always under 25, and if the staff member fails to follow policy, they can be dismissed for gross misconduct. Yes it's a pain in the ass, but the policy is there, in place to stop underage sales happening. If everyone just used their judgement as to if someone looks over 16/18, there would be alot more under age sales going through as assessing age can be very subjective, which is why challenge 25 adds that level of protection for the staff, and the public. And the test purchasers are always a possibility, to ensure the policy is being followed and staff aren't getting lapse in their judgement. It's all for a good reason, as frustrating as it can be.

The Challenge 25 policy is total overkill even for alcohol, let alone bloody paracetamol.

I've been able to legally buy alcohol for almost 20 years and the rules, which were already pretty strict when I was in 6th form (ID to get into any pub or club or buy alcohol in a shop, only passport and driving licence accepted) have got progressively stricter.

I was once ID'ed in Sainsbury's at the age of 28 for buying a bar of Bailey's flavoured chocolate, which would have had less alcohol in it than orange juice, but that isn't an age restricted product (yet).

Other western countries, with the exception of the US, don't do this.

And do they have serious underage drinking problems which are magically absent in the UK and the US?

No. Quite the reverse, in fact.

The whole policy, and the UK's entire attitude towards alcohol, needs a complete rethink. Or maybe the state treats British people like children when it comes to alcohol because they behave like children when it comes to alcohol. No real need to apply that to painkillers and cutlery though.

SeeingSpots · 08/06/2023 21:49

Brefugee · 08/06/2023 21:46

"just get ID" even the citizen card is expensive for some, though.
If you don't have mandated ID, it is totally over the top to demand it.

I think a lot of people are showing how fortunate they are in this thread. A citizen card may only be £15 buy that's a significant amount of money if you're living paycheck to paycheck or on the breadline like a large amount of people in this country.

At the end of the day you don't need ID to buy paracetamol and you shouldn't be prevented from purchasing it simply because you haven't got valid ID.

Whenwillitallmakesense · 08/06/2023 21:51

Brefugee · 08/06/2023 21:32

For those of you saying that this country doesn't require you to have ID, technically you're correct but anyone applying for certain jobs, both as employees and volunteers, it is essential to have 3 pieces of ID, at least one photographic and one proof of address, for purposes of DBS and right to work checks.

again, the country is batshit. You have no mandated ID and you don't have to register where you live.

So how do you prove this? If you, say, are 35 and you don't drive or have a passport and you live with your parents because you help your mum care for your dad so all utility bills are in their name, and you have an online banking account, and your cellphone bill is all email.

How do you prove all that?

In my experience, you have to apply for a passport and/or provisional licence and/or PASS proof of age card. Also, any printouts from online accounts are unacceptable so original statememts/utility bills are required. No exceptions whatsoever.

Please don't shoot the messenger, I'm just telling you my experience. I don't make the rules!

Istolethecookies · 08/06/2023 21:51

I got asked for ID when buying calpol the other day, I’m 30. I laughed and asked if they were joking, apparently not, but I took it as a compliment anyway.

EmeraldFox · 08/06/2023 21:52

Sussexcricket · 08/06/2023 18:30

It's challenge 25 not 18.

It seems to have led some people to think 'could this person be under 25' and ask for ID from people who look 30 and possibly could be 24 but certainly not 17!

Whenwillitallmakesense · 08/06/2023 21:53

Istolethecookies · 08/06/2023 21:51

I got asked for ID when buying calpol the other day, I’m 30. I laughed and asked if they were joking, apparently not, but I took it as a compliment anyway.

Shhhh you're not allowed to say this. You'll get scolded

SisterAgatha · 08/06/2023 21:55

I was once ID'ed in Sainsbury's at the age of 28 for buying a bar of Bailey's flavoured chocolate, which would have had less alcohol in it than orange juice, but that isn't an age restricted product (yet).

sainsburys is the shop that wouldn’t accept my driving license. My birthdate had clearly been verified through the DVLA in order for me to get the license and I had other ID which proved my name and address. The manager (awful lady who is always shouting at the staff) seemed to enjoy telling me no. I do think some of them just do it for the laughs if they don’t like your face.

EmeraldFox · 08/06/2023 21:57

DiaNaranja · 08/06/2023 21:34

You say you look young for your age, and if the store was using the challenge 25 policy, the cashier was just doing their job. If they thought you could have been 23-24 and didn't ask you to prove your age, they could then lose their job. Stores that adopt challenge 25, get "test purchasers" who regularly come into the shop and check that staff are following procedures. The test purchasers will be of legal age to buy the product, but always under 25, and if the staff member fails to follow policy, they can be dismissed for gross misconduct. Yes it's a pain in the ass, but the policy is there, in place to stop underage sales happening. If everyone just used their judgement as to if someone looks over 16/18, there would be alot more under age sales going through as assessing age can be very subjective, which is why challenge 25 adds that level of protection for the staff, and the public. And the test purchasers are always a possibility, to ensure the policy is being followed and staff aren't getting lapse in their judgement. It's all for a good reason, as frustrating as it can be.

How does that work? If the test purchaser is under 25 then they could still look over 25, surely it is not gross misconduct to not ask for ID if you believe that the person is over 25? Otherwise you'd have to ask anyone who looked under about 35 to make sure they were over 25!

Needmorelego · 08/06/2023 22:07

@Brefugee if you need proof of where you live in the scenario you suggested then if you are registered to vote so on the electoral roll and registered as a patient at a GP surgery and a dentist then that gives you some proof of where you live.

mandlerparr · 08/06/2023 22:11

I feel like I am not fully dressed if I don't have my license, phone, and glasses.

rwalker · 08/06/2023 22:16

Trading standards and police regally do undercover spot checks
the shop assistant has to personally pay the fine and more than likely get sacked
so if there the slightest bit unsure the air in the side of caution

mandlerparr · 08/06/2023 22:16

WomblingTree86 · 08/06/2023 20:30

Not everyone has ID. It's not a legal requirement in this country and it's a bit ridiculous to suggest they should have it if they are in pain and need paracetamol or other pain relief..

Show quote history

Sounds like it is a legal requirement for some things. While there may not be a specific law requiring it (I actually don't know, taking your word for it) there are several laws requiring it for assorted things. Although it can be a passport as well, I should think.

Florenz · 08/06/2023 22:26

SeeingSpots · 08/06/2023 21:49

I think a lot of people are showing how fortunate they are in this thread. A citizen card may only be £15 buy that's a significant amount of money if you're living paycheck to paycheck or on the breadline like a large amount of people in this country.

At the end of the day you don't need ID to buy paracetamol and you shouldn't be prevented from purchasing it simply because you haven't got valid ID.

Show quote history

If the shop says you need ID to buy paracetamol, you need ID to buy paracetamol. Shopping is a privilege, not a "human right".