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Original poster

To think this is ridiculous? B and M

151 replies

Icedlatte97 · 04/07/2023 23:55

I popped into B+M and did some shopping, including a little hand sanitiser that had a key ring thing on it to put on my car keys as I like to have one on me. It was clearly marketed as a children’s one with a motif on it.

I got to the check out and as the cashier scanned the hand sanitiser she said ‘I will need to see some ID for this, you have to be 16 to buy this’. I smiled and said I don’t have any on me but I’m 26’. I didn’t see it in a rude way or anything like that. She looked at me with her eyebrow raised and said ‘are you really’ and then smirked at me, it was like she didn’t believe me. Then she told me she can not sell it to me without ID. Aibu to think this is ridiculous? I have never been asked for ID for hand sanitiser before and thought it was condescending the way she spoke to me

OP posts:
hengelian · 05/07/2023 06:14

BiscuitsandPuffin · 05/07/2023 06:04

That's totally bizarre that they would require this to be age restricted, the alcohol in hand sanitiser is methanol which is unsafe to drink (can kill you in small-ish amounts) and the alcohol in alcoholic drinks is ethanol which is drinkable (doesn't cause blindness etc).
They're different compounds.
Having said that, I can understand them being concerned about people drinking non-food substances but by that logic the car oil and deicer should also be age restricted.

I guess there might be kids who'd buy a product containing alcohol and think it will get them drunk if they consume it.

Not saying I agree particularly, just thinking of the reasoning behind it.

RiseYpres · 05/07/2023 06:20

DeltaAlphaDelta79 · 05/07/2023 00:37

I got asked for ID for some syrup to make cocktails with. I was 40 at the time, with a full beard, and the syrup had no alcohol in it. Because it was on the shelf in the alcohol section, it still had an age restriction on it.

The alcohol free drinks get the age restriction thing too. Which is wierd IMO.

thishasnotmyweek · 05/07/2023 06:21

Having worked in a bar, once you ask someone for ID and they can't provide it, it's then illegal to sell them the product.

The cashier will have had this drilled into her, and she may have also have been told that secret shopping will come who will try and buy something without ID and if she serves them, she will lose her job and possibly be fined.

It can also be really hard guessing peoples ages sometimes! I have asked people for ID who are much older, and I can see it once I have studied their face more, but at first glance they looked much younger

RiseYpres · 05/07/2023 06:22

Oh i see I am just repeating what others said Grin Usuaully I DO RTFT before posting!

VisionsOfSplendour · 05/07/2023 06:28

Retail staff aren't robotsx, the rules might be tha same for all but peoplea perception of age isn't some kind of standard

One assistant might think you look under 25, the next one might not, it's not at all surprising that you want why asked for ID every time.

Obviously they should be polite but you're unrwaonable about the rule in heneral

tenbob · 05/07/2023 06:29

thishasnotmyweek · 05/07/2023 06:21

Having worked in a bar, once you ask someone for ID and they can't provide it, it's then illegal to sell them the product.

The cashier will have had this drilled into her, and she may have also have been told that secret shopping will come who will try and buy something without ID and if she serves them, she will lose her job and possibly be fined.

It can also be really hard guessing peoples ages sometimes! I have asked people for ID who are much older, and I can see it once I have studied their face more, but at first glance they looked much younger

That is absolutely not true!

it might be the bar (or shop) policy but it isn’t the law

Mikimoto · 05/07/2023 06:29

I think you'll find vapes are marketed with pretty little infantile designs, too.

InSpainTheRain · 05/07/2023 06:31

I assume the fact that the cashier was rude and smirked at you was worse than the fact you couldn't buy the sanitiser. Just give a breezy "oh I'll leave then" and pay for your other items. Or if you think she was awful to you just walk away and leave everything with her.

TeenLifeMum · 05/07/2023 06:37

Considering 2 years ago we were all giving primary age dc they own hand sanitiser this seems bonkers but dh once had it buying the Sunday times that had a 15 dvd with it… he was 33 at the time and had walked over to buy it for work and hadn’t taken ID.

Tereseta · 05/07/2023 06:47

I worked in retail for many years where we sold age restricted products. Once it flags up the cashier would need to see ID, especially as you are 26 so around the think 25 age. This is tested regularly and I have seen many colleagues lose their jobs from failing these over the years.
I understand the annoyance that she smirked but it could also be a nervous reaction to the anticipated confrontation that comes when the customer has no ID.
The easy thing here would have been to just leave the hand gel behind.

Abcdefghik · 05/07/2023 06:47

The problem for the cashier is that once she has asked you, and you can't produce ID she can't actually let you have it..she's not being rude or silly, it's just a thing. It's also incredibly difficult to judge age theses days, and a cashier will always err on the side of caution because they need their job.

Tereseta · 05/07/2023 06:49

tenbob · 05/07/2023 06:29

That is absolutely not true!

it might be the bar (or shop) policy but it isn’t the law

Show quote history

It is a licencing condition though and can cause the business to be fined heavily or lose their licence

BarbaraofSeville · 05/07/2023 06:49

Having worked in a bar, once you ask someone for ID and they can't provide it, it's then illegal to sell them the product

No it isn't.

Please link to the law that states that it is illegal to sell an age restricted product to someone in their 20s, 30s or even older because someone 'believes' they look under 25?

trrk · 05/07/2023 06:49

BiscuitsandPuffin · 05/07/2023 06:04

That's totally bizarre that they would require this to be age restricted, the alcohol in hand sanitiser is methanol which is unsafe to drink (can kill you in small-ish amounts) and the alcohol in alcoholic drinks is ethanol which is drinkable (doesn't cause blindness etc).
They're different compounds.
Having said that, I can understand them being concerned about people drinking non-food substances but by that logic the car oil and deicer should also be age restricted.

Most hand sanitizer is ethanol based although it may have other chemicals in it as well to make it more gel like so it wouldn’t be a good idea to drink it.

Where have you seen methanol based hand sanitizer? I wouldn’t be keen to put that on my hands.

SpringIntoChaos · 05/07/2023 06:58

The thing is OP...at 26 you KNOW that you'll likely be asked for ID on many occasions, so why is your ID not routinely in your bag/purse all the time?

My driving license has lived in my purse for 40 years...since I passed my test aged 18. It's never been anywhere else. You just put your ID in there (whatever form it takes...doesn't have to be a drivers license!) and forget about it...no big deal 🤷‍♀️

AxolotlOnions · 05/07/2023 07:00

BiscuitsandPuffin · 05/07/2023 06:04

That's totally bizarre that they would require this to be age restricted, the alcohol in hand sanitiser is methanol which is unsafe to drink (can kill you in small-ish amounts) and the alcohol in alcoholic drinks is ethanol which is drinkable (doesn't cause blindness etc).
They're different compounds.
Having said that, I can understand them being concerned about people drinking non-food substances but by that logic the car oil and deicer should also be age restricted.

Hand sanitiser does not contain methanol, it contains ethanol and it absolutely does get you drunk. It was a massive problem during Covid.

Methanol is an 18+ restricted item too btw, it comes under 'dangerous chemicals'.

veryfluffyfluff · 05/07/2023 07:01

This is such an everyday occurance I'd not be embarrassed by it. It just is.

Tighginn · 05/07/2023 07:01

70% alcohol in those wee bottles...

ThursdayFreedom · 05/07/2023 07:09

Icedlatte97 · 05/07/2023 00:03

I do usually carry ID but I have bought hand sanitiser from B and M before and never been asked. I also don’t understand why the one I bought is marketed at children if it’s age restricted

Because parents need to buy it & then children are presumed to be using it under supervision.

like knives.

I agree that at your age it's highly unlikely you look 16, but 'think 25' stops much in the way of common sense,

it's annoying but it's not the cashiers fault.

SerendipityJane · 05/07/2023 07:11

BarbaraofSeville · 05/07/2023 06:49

Having worked in a bar, once you ask someone for ID and they can't provide it, it's then illegal to sell them the product

No it isn't.

Please link to the law that states that it is illegal to sell an age restricted product to someone in their 20s, 30s or even older because someone 'believes' they look under 25?

That wasn't what was claimed though was it ?

Dunkling · 05/07/2023 07:21

I work in a tourist destination shop. Our till even flags up honey as age restricted. Over 3s only! And even our local honey man who delivered our latest lot to me said it is boohockey… due to 1 case many many years ago of botulism. The truth is, once our till flags an age restricted product, be it alcohol, blades etc, and we’ve looked at you and decided we’re on the fence, we can then NOT sell it to you without id. The honey? That’s an easy one… mum or dad is going to look over 3. I rue the day mum hands little Tarquinius a tenner and sends him to the till! 🤣

Tighginn · 05/07/2023 07:29

Dunkling · 05/07/2023 07:21

I work in a tourist destination shop. Our till even flags up honey as age restricted. Over 3s only! And even our local honey man who delivered our latest lot to me said it is boohockey… due to 1 case many many years ago of botulism. The truth is, once our till flags an age restricted product, be it alcohol, blades etc, and we’ve looked at you and decided we’re on the fence, we can then NOT sell it to you without id. The honey? That’s an easy one… mum or dad is going to look over 3. I rue the day mum hands little Tarquinius a tenner and sends him to the till! 🤣

Tarquinius😂

GregoryFluff · 05/07/2023 07:34

hengelian · 05/07/2023 06:12

There are things that are marketed at children that are age restricted and meant to be used with adult supervision. You can't buy Calpol if you are under 16, for example. Also certain glue sticks and school scissors.

I'm not saying I agree with hand sanitiser being age restricted, but just because something is ultimately meant for children to use doesn't mean they should be allowed to buy it without an adult.

Show quote history

Calpol isn't age restricted
I scan and shop, never have to wait for them to press the button to allow sale
Straight through, no issue

slashlover · 05/07/2023 07:34

Mumtothreegirlies · 05/07/2023 01:21

Maybe they had additional needs and therefore take everything In their job literally.. I’m 36 and still occasionally get ID for alcohol but most shops will use logic for other items like glue and scissors etc. I have to say though it is really hard to tell how old a person is sometimes and years ago when I worked in retail I’d often ID people for alcohol and cigarettes and they’d be in their 30’s. On this occasion I’d put it down to be a bit of a jobs worth and take it as a compliment.

Additional needs and a jobsworth for not breaking the rules of their workplace?

hengelian · 05/07/2023 07:39

GregoryFluff · 05/07/2023 07:34

Calpol isn't age restricted
I scan and shop, never have to wait for them to press the button to allow sale
Straight through, no issue

Show quote history

It's paracetamol - some places have a 16+ age restriction on it.