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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think Think 25 is ridiculous and sexist?!

253 replies

enkelt2 · 31/12/2025 19:51

Look, this is obviously an emotional post, just a rant really.

Just wanted to get some booze at Tesco at NYE. Got ID'd, didn't have ID (ID on my phone only). So went to off licence instead.

I'm 33 soon and consistently get ID'd. People think it's a compliment and friends even congratulate me for looking young.

A full-grown woman needing permission to spend her own money is absolutely not flattering.

I'd be interested to see if women get ID'd way more than men--I bet they do. I bet it's about 75-25 women-men (who are over 18) who get ID'd.

It's women themselves who like to look young/succumb to the pressure of needing to look young. So we've created this environment where people can't tell your age. And so when they do look young they are restricted from spending their own money. Do you see what I mean? The society punishes women either way: you either choose to look your age, or give up your independence. I've never tried to look young; it's probably a genetic thing.

It's not just alcohol obviously, I got ID'd for paracetamol at Waitrose when I had a cold.

Yeah yeah, I get it, 'Why don't you just bring your ID all the time?' Look, that's not the point. The point is women already cannot live as carefree as men in so many areas of life. Dealing with period, dealing with pain, dealing with having less physical force. This is just one more thing.

It's a covertly sexist policy.

That's all, have a wonderful new year.

OP posts:
Namechange568899542 · 02/01/2026 14:38

Musicaltheatremum · 02/01/2026 14:22

My son is 30 and looks about 16 when he's clean shaven. My daughter is 32 and has only recently stopped being asked for ID.

I’m 30 but have been ID’d twice lately as it would seem when I’ve got no make up on and my winter beanie hat I look young.

I’m not offended by it and neither should you be OP. It’s just there to prevent selling alcohol illegally to teenagers. Not everything is that deep or requires outrage 🙄

Ihatetomatoes · 02/01/2026 14:38

GinBlossom94 · 02/01/2026 14:29

I do this every day, I don’t ID women more than men, I ID anyone who looked under 25, it’s my job - which if I fail to do I can receive a fine and face disciplinary from my employer, it’s really not a conspiracy or that deep

This. Simple

StarlightLady · 02/01/2026 15:41

InveterateWineDrinker · 02/01/2026 14:18

All of this hand-wringing could be easily solved by having a national identity card, just like nearly every other civilised country of Earth.

Neither Denmark, Australia, Canada, New Zealand or the USA have national ID cards.

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