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.

I meant some management are only bothered that it looks like we are following the law. We did as it happens and fortunately the two managers who were useless were "let go".

As someone who's husband stopped being ID at about 14 partly because he was tall (now 6ft 3) and whose child is also tall (currently 5ft 6 at 12), I like the policy. My husband could buy alcohol at about 14 because he was tall, fairly burley and 6ft ish, I suspect my child will be the same. Actually I'd rather my kid didn't get to buy alchol at 14 because he looks 18.

However ID'ing everyone would just slow down queues massively, so no don't ID everyone who's clearly over 30, just IDing those you aren't 100% sure about works fine!

I'm not very tall so regularly find myself getting ID'd. If it ever irritates me then I curse my lack of height rather than the system/cashier.

I used to get asked for ID all the time in my 20s and 30s—and it used to annoy me too. Nowadays I can practically see the cashier do the quick, soul-destroying, “too old to bother” check. Funny how perspectives change…

Just carry some ID. Job done.

If they id everyone you will have to carry id. As it stands you often get id'd so carry id and problem solved. Why do the rest of us have to suffer and wait for longer queues as everyone buying booze gets id check.

When the Tesco self-scan people come over to clear the red light I just say ‘Obviously I’m under 25 but he’s the one buying the booze and he’s 82’ (I’m 70). Usually raises a smile and job done.

Just carry ID, think yourself lucky, and stop seeing discrimination where it doesn’t exist.

My thoughts and opinion obviously.....

30yo DS cannot get served anywhere (he's our eldest). He regularly gets asked by people at his door if his DPs are in. He's owned the house for seven years.
Both DSs have also had several people (always middle-aged men) shout, "bank of mum and dad," "mummy and daddy's money" and "mummy's car" at them when driving. Their young looks get comments a lot.
All three of my adult DC carry ID all the time. None of them get served in bars otherwise. Rather naughtily, DD (a 19yo student) regularly travels on a child ticket. I don't think there's a difference between the sex, just how young they look.

There is no alternative if you look younger because if they sell to an underage person, the consequences are harsh. Just routinely show ID and say, "I know I look young." It is not difficult to do.

I do not think it is sexist; women have a choice whether to try and look younger or not. Men are not forcing us to use anti-aging creams and whatnot, and genetics has more to do with it!

I look young too, as does my friend who is 34 and always has to show ID.

I used to get I'D til i was about 35, then it started to go downhill 😄 enjoy it while you can....if this is your biggest annoyance good on you 👌

The shop workers themselves are personally liable if they get fined. The fines are huge relative to salary. But that’s not the point. Why should they risk criminality because you cba to carry ID? I don’t think the policy is sexist, but I do think your position is a quite entitled.
I’m well over 25. Sometimes I’m asked, sometimes I’m not. If I know I want a drink, I take it out. If I don’t have it on me & I get asked for it, I wish them well have a chuckle about my actual age and leave without the drink.

I was still getting ID’d well into my 30’s, just carry your ID 🤷‍♀️ to be honest you sound really immature.

Many companies are obliged to check regardless of how old or young people look. I used to hate being IDd when I was younger, for years nobody believed my age , then ill health and disability and trauma hit and now nobody’s surprised by my age anymore and I am still asked for ID or my DOB because people have to, not because I look younger than I am.

This, you get asked for id, you give it..job done!
Many moons ago dh at 23 just back from being deployed to a sandy place with army got asked for id in local supermarket when buying a bottle of fizz to celebrate a lost friend, got id, didn’t kick off, just showed MOD90 which they knocked back! 😆

i think it is bonkers in a country with no mandated officially government issued ID that you constantly have to prove your age.

The utter ridiculousness of having to have an assistant (and there is always a stupidly long wait which negates having the flipping things) to confirm I'm 18 to buy a packet of feminax at the self checkout drives me batty.

(yes i know why they do it, it is still fucking daft while you have no official ID)

Retail staff often barely earn minimum wage and yet if they get it wrong they can get sacked, get an unlimited fine and get prison time. Carry id if it bothers you that much like most adults do. For retail staff the punishments far outweigh the benefits and yet like everyone else they have bills to pay so most won’t risk the ability to do that.

When I worked in retail I had one of the highest challenge rates and I challenged men and women equally. It is one of the hardest parts of the job and the abuse you can receive from the public for doing it doesn’t bare thinking about. Still we have a job to do to obey the law and in so doing protect children. Instead of thinking everybody is against you carry id. Problem solved.

I got asked for ID recently at 30 years old with my toddler in the trolley and over £100 of food shopping.

I get that they are supposed to think 25 but in reality, what under 18 year old is spending £100 on food just to get away with buying wine. I didn’t have any ID on me and I had no time to go back to the shop as I needed to pick my eldest up from school.

I had a rough week and was really looking forward to a glass of wine after the kids had gone to bed.

I also go in this shop twice a week and have never been asked for ID other than that one time.

Me and my whole family look young. I have two brothers in their late 30s who get ID'ed all the time and have the same problem as you. My mum is in her 60s and recently mentioned her kids, the person responded "which school do they go to?!" We're all in our 30s...

Looking young is a good thing imo. But it affects men and women equally, it's obviously not just women who look young for their age.

@enkelt2 I'm 33 soon and consistently get ID'd.

Humblebrag.

Try not to get too upset. Some people look younger. I’ve said this on here before; when I was 29 a woman in her eighties gave out to me first getting myself pregnant when I should be sitting my intercert (old name for the now junior certificate exams that 15/16 year old kids sit) that was 10 years ago. When I first went to the GP with my first child, they thought I was a teenager.
I have always been asked for ID to buy booze partly because I look like I don’t know what to buy (I don’t because I never drank alcohol and because I look young, so I always carry ID). Fast forward to a few weeks ago I wanted to buy a lotto ticket and the lady at the till asked for ID. I’m 39 with my 10 and 12 year old kids, the lady said she thought we were all siblings and apologized while I just laughed.
It doesn’t bother me anymore tbh, they’re doing their job and I used to work in retail and the store will get fined if a mystery shopper purchased alcohol without Id being requested.

I bought DP a new razor for Christmas (old style with razor blades). The delivery man demanded ID because of the laws on buying bladed implements. I'm 62.

I’m 37 and noticed the last few years people have stopped asking me for ID and just automatically pressing the button after a quick glance. I kind of miss it now I so clearly look past it 😂

The solution is ID people who look under 18. If they’re under 18 and look the legal age then oh well.

If it's any consolation perimenopause will take care of this issue for you in a few years. Make the most of being ID'd!

I was about to say lol they ID everyone in the U.S.

Me and my friends all late 30s got ID’d in Houston recently.

Even though my friends from Houston had once been regulars at that club and knew the bouncers on duty that night.

I've had this all my adult life. I was even asked for ID in Marks and Spencer when I was in my mid 40s a few years ago! I see it as a compliment. It doesn't have to be that serious.

(It's happening less now, since I lost almost 3 stone on Orlistat but that's another issue!)