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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to have got mad with the checkout woman in Tescos?

97 replies

Marie12 · 19/09/2009 16:28

She insisted I show ID as I had a bottle of wine in amongst my shopping. The girl serving was underage so had to shout 'alcohol' to the woman on the next checkout who challenged my age.

I am 31 and I had my 2 kids and DH with me. I shop there twice a week and have never been ID'd! I don't carry ID, why should I have to?

I got really defensive about it which probably made me look really silly. I feel quite red faced about it now. I ranted at her in front of queuing customers about how old I was and how I don't expect to be asked for ID and she said I looked younger than 25! My husband said I should be flattered but I just saw red at the bureacracy of it all!

In the end she let us buy it because she said my husband looked older; he's the same age as me! Just feel really embarrassed now for kicking off - I'm not normally like that, not in public anyway! Must be nearing that time of the month or something!

OP posts:
bubblagirl · 20/09/2009 10:38

also many people start there families quite young now days so having a child with you really doesnt mean anything now days

i was lucky when i wa son check out my friend caught wind of someone being told by boss people to go in and buy alcohol and cigarettes she was able to phone me with description of person if i hadnt have been told i would have served as looked old enough luckily i asked for id and was congratulated for doing my job properly really put me on edge for weeks so i asked everyone for id lol

MrsWeasley · 20/09/2009 10:47

My DH worked in a supermarket and if they felt the need for age verifications they can't back down. They also cant sell if they think you are buying for someone younger and they cant sell it to you because you are with someone older.

If they do its an £80 personal fine and they can be banned from working on the checkouts!

everlong · 20/09/2009 11:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

RustyBear · 20/09/2009 11:26

I was quite surprised yesterday in Exeter Sainsburys' when I took DD back to university & we went to stock up - we had wine & vodka & as we got to the checkout DD realised she'd left her ID at the house. We were expecting to be asked, especially as the checkout guy was underage himself & had to get it OK'd by a passing supervisor - but nothing at all; if we'd been at our local one we'd never have got away with it. DD does look quite mature for her age, but I can't believe anyone thought she was over 25, so they should have asked.

In fact I couldn't currently prove my age as I'm cu
waiting for a new passport and my driving licence Is a pre-photo one. Not that anyone's likely to think I'm under 25, of course...

nappyaddict · 20/09/2009 11:34

YABU. My friend is 35 and actually does look like she is about 17. It's not the checkout girls fault if you look young for your age - she was just doing her job. The reason for it being if you look under 25 is that it works the other way around too - 17 year olds can easily look 23/24.

sheepgomeep · 20/09/2009 12:19

no everlong you have to LOOK over 25, If you don't you should be asked for ID simple as that.

Many 17 year olds look 25 + and vice versa and the 25 thing is there to protect the shop staff, there is less room for error.

Have you worked on a till recently.?

everlong · 20/09/2009 12:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

hanaboo · 20/09/2009 12:41

just be flattered lol i got id'd for matches! at the age of 26! twice in two shops! i didn't have id so i left the first shop an went into another and when the very young looking boy in the second shop asked for id i got so mad and shouted at him (poor thing)he got a bit scared and sold them to me
i was flattered

Kathrina · 20/09/2009 12:56

I have never been asked for ID. But my sister was once when she was shopping with me even though i was buying the wine she was 24 at the time but does look young for her age. She didn't mind one bit and was quite flattered. My hubby has as well for buying cigarettes even though he was 28 he must look very young for his age. Me on the other hand must look VERY old as i have never been asked for ID better slap some more face cream on

edam · 20/09/2009 13:12

agree it's a dirty trick to force us all to comply with ID cards. Under-25s will get used to having to have ID and think it's just more convenient to have one card rather than carry round passports or driving licences.

Very irritating - I went a good few years without either, would have had no way of proving my age.

nappyaddict · 20/09/2009 13:35

Some shops have to ask every customer for ID whether they are 16 or 80. This is because in the past they may have had several fines for not asking for ID so now the conditions of their license are that they must ask every single person who attempts to buy alcohol.

TotallyAndUtterlyPaninied · 20/09/2009 13:42

I'm 24 and get ID'd constantly. Even for cigarettes (I don't smoke- had to buy them for someone at work and got ID'd). I've even been ID'd only 3 months ago for a 15 DVD. I nearly cried out of embarressment. I was with my DS and was buying loads of baby food and nappies at the time and did not have ID on me.

It is frustrating and embarressing, and no one should have to look 25, as 25 isn't the law for drink. But I suppose they've got to ask. And yes sometimes they do ask to be smart arses. If my students ever serve me, they ID me because I'm their tutor and they want to make life hard for me.

But it's the way it is and you need to chill out and be flattered.

Jude68 · 20/09/2009 14:06

I don't think you are. I'd have gone mad too. What if you'd not been able to buy a bottle of wine. At 31? What the fuck!! That is ridiculous. Write a letter of complaint if you can be arsed and go to Sainsbury's instead!

bronzebeard · 20/09/2009 14:12

What id do people use out of interest. I don't drive and refuse to carry my passport around, that way trouble lies.

I really hate that this is compulsery id cards by the back door as other people have phrased it but on the other hand I do need id if I want to buy a friend a bottle of wine ( I dont drink much)

nappyaddict · 20/09/2009 14:41

It needs to have the PASS hologram on it. I know the citizen card does.

nappyaddict · 20/09/2009 14:42

list of PASS cards

bronzebeard · 20/09/2009 14:56

I had a 'prove it' card when I was 18. Iy was one of the allowed ones then but doesn't seem to be even though I still have it somewhere

Jude68 · 20/09/2009 18:19

That'll teach you not to go shopping in pigtails, mini skirt and knee-high socks in future eh?

Save the clobber as a treat for your much older looking hubby in future...what fun!!

nappyaddict · 22/09/2009 20:23

Does anyone know why some places have the right to refuse to serve anyone under 25 alcohol unless they can show ID, rather than anyone who looks under 25 which is the one I most commonly hear of.

Kayzr · 22/09/2009 20:28

YABU!!

My DH works on the cigarette kiosk. If he had served you and you had been underage he would have lost his job, been fined and faced prison.

I never get asked and I am 23. I am starting to wonder if I need to get botox done or something.

Elemental · 22/09/2009 20:34

I got asked today and am 35. First time it's happened for years and I stood there doing a goldfish impression before saying, no, I didn't have ID. The checkout lady let me get it though although with a bit of a telling off about carrying ID in the future. I was amazed.

overmydeadbody · 22/09/2009 20:36

YABU and you know it.

I'm glad you feel embarrassed for having kicked off.

They are just doing their job. You have to ask for ID if the customer looks under 25.

And Tesco doesn't have an s at the end of it.

Mumcentreplus · 22/09/2009 20:37

Hahaha YAB a bit U...take it as a complement I was challenged once when I was 27 about cigarettes!..I blame the fact my hair was in plaits at the time

NinthWave · 22/09/2009 20:51

I've been ID'd a few times recently and I'm 29 - no big deal. If I don't have ID, I don't buy the wine. I'm not desperate enough for a drink to kick off at a poor underage checkout girl!

cheesesarnie · 22/09/2009 20:57

poor check out girl!yabu.i get asked(im 31)its funny and its a lovely complement-although ive never seen someone under 25 look as haggard as i often do at the checkout!

i worked in a little shop for a bit and often had people getting cross and ott when asked for ID.i didnt care-i didnt make alot of money but i needed the job to help support my family and wasnt about to lose the job over one ranting women/man.