To think Think 25 is ridiculous and sexist?!

[enkelt2]

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.

It’s not really any of those things, it’s to ensure that children under the age of 18 can’t buy alcohol and Think 25 acknowledges that thirteen year olds can pass for 25 with the right make up.

don’t take it personally

Just carry your ID babe.

I agree. Ridiculous campaign. The age is 18 ffs. Challenge 21 was bad enough but 25 is just absurd. Im unable to carry a purse bag or any bank cards so it’s a fucking bastard to remember to bring cunting ID everywhere with me.

Are you saying a 5 year old should be able to buy alcohol?

The age 5 thing is an old law from when things like certain teething solutions contained alcohol or people used to rub whisky on baby's gums. You're not supposed to hand them a can of beer.

Perhaps the solution is just, take your ID. You need to do that with the Americanised ID checking system anyway, and you wouldn't work yourself up about the fake boogyman I mean, "misogyny" and "sexism".

But if it was changed to id everyone you still wouldn’t get served as you chose not to carry your id

So what do you do about a 16 year old who looks 18? I assume you've never worked in a job where alcohol is sold?

YABU

This affects both sexes and has been introduced for valid reasons. It's not in any way sexist.

I worked in bars and pubs for many years and generally ID'd more men than woman.
Woman can wear makeup to alter the age they look but with practice you can see past that.
Men however can't seem to alter their attitude 25yr old often act like 17 Yr olds after half a shandy .

Either way round there is not a hope in hell that I would of risked my job because you forgot your ID.

One day, and that day will come round far sooner than you expect, you will look your age and then the issue will have resolved itself.

Swansea university did this research which disproves your theory, but maybe it’s just Wales.

An initial large-scale survey established how easily, and in what types of outlet, children were able to purchase alcohol [R2]. Among 16-year-olds the proportion who reported drinking regularly and buying their own alcohol increased linearly from 6% at age 11 to 52% at age 16. Then, under the aegis of the Home Office and the respective Chief Constables, 13- and 16-year-old girls and boys were recruited to attempt to purchase a variety of alcohol beverages, including spirits. It was found that among 16-year-olds, 88% of girls' attempts to buy alcohol, and 77% of boys' attempts, resulted in a sale, while among 13-year-olds, 42% of girls' attempts, but only 4% of boys', succeeded. 80% of sales to 16-year-olds, and two-thirds of sales to 13-year-old girls, were unchallenged. When challenged, children produced a card that showed their real dates of birth: half the 16-year-olds and a fifth of the 13-year-old girls were still sold alcohol [R1]. Alcohol was equally available in corner shops, pubs, off-licences, and supermarkets.

Put your id in your phone case

Just put your photo card licence in your phone case.

We have think 23 in our supermarket. I id everyone who looks anyway young at all because we’ve been told we can be let go or even called into court. I’ve asked as many men as women, their ages have gone into 30s and personally I got ided until close to your age and never thought it sexist.

I agree it is super annoying. Mainly because most people dont carry wallets anymore. If I ever get ID’ed now - which is rare and ridiculous! I have the Grand Canyon of wrinkles on my forehead and dont wear makeup. It’s like seriously.. how many 17yo girls do you know who dont wear makeup! - then I have to resort to NHS app and thrusting said forehead forward for insection. 9/10 that does work.

I worked in retail. I wouldn’t agree that more females than males get ID’d. Can’t prove it just as you can’t prove your suspicions about it being the other way around. We don’t enjoy it but it’s part of the job and there are serious consequences if you fail a test purchase.

The law is there to protect people. Just take your ID with you, whether they ask some or everyone, the need for ID doesn’t change.

When I worked on a supermarket self checkout, I definitely didn’t ID women more than men; wasn’t less comfortable asking men, and never got the impression that anybody else was.

Slightly going off on a tangent, the things I remember most - besides the absolute necessity of checking; it’s not a “nobody cares” situation, staff can get into a lot of trouble if they allow a sale to anyone underage - were, 1, how many customers genuinely believe the camera, or someone behind it flags them up as a borderline case, whereas the process is the same for whoever’s buying the alcohol, 19 years old or 90. And 2, how many people who were very obviously old enough (I’m talking mid 30s+) insisted on showing their ID when they really didn’t need to.

My Tesco delivery driver once ID'd me for oven cleaner 😂

I'm also in my 30s and a baby face. It is what it is

Because it’s reduced from a monthly basis a few years ago and I don’t always plan to buy alcohol when I go out. I also think I definitely look late 30s so 🤷🏼‍♀️

Yeh sorry OP, I hope your evening gets better.

My DS works in retail and he has to ID people. Often they don’t like it. But yunno, I had a friend whose DD looked about 21 when she was 16 (tall, wore stylish clothes, used makeup); my own DD is 24 but could pass for 16, due to her height (5ft3), slim build, choice of clothes and make-up (ie neutral clothes and no makeup). DD was in a seat on a plane last year where you have to be 18 (bc it's the emergency exit) and the cabin crew asked her how old she was. DD reckoned the staff member was probably younger than she was.

So the only way round it is for the staff to ask for ID if they think there is a chance you are under 25. because you could look 24 and actually be 17. And the staff member could lose their job if they allowed alcohol to be sold to a minor.

Actually DS says he IDs lads as often as not so your feminist schtick doesn't resonate with me.

Just carry your driving licence and have done.

btw 25 was chosen I imagine bc someone who looks older than 25 probably is 18+; it's not at all unusual for someone of 17 to look (say) 21, but not usually 25 tbh. Even my friend's lass didn't look that old at 16.

That is literally the retail worker doing their job.

Yes, it’s annoying now but honestly you’ll be grateful when you’re in your late 40s, early 50s and everyone thinks you’re still in your early 30s!

I love it now!

I’m going to take a guess you got your wine and have already made a start on it?

In my experience it's not really sexist and even if it inadvertently was, the aim is not to stop women buying alcohol. Everyone needs to give their ID at some point, and as long as you're asked for it, which you say you constantly are, then just take your bloody ID.

Yabu. Both men and woman who are lucky enough to look young are asked. I've been in queues where both are asked. No one gets upset as they know the law. Bring your id op