to think that I should be able to vouch for my DS' age at a local cinema?

[peanutbut]

Yesterday I took my 12 year old DS to a local cinema to see Avatar (rated 12A) with a friend of his. They wanted to go in alone and I was happy with this.
He'd already seen the film at the same cinema the previous week ( also without accompanying adult) but during that showing the film froze for 30 minutes. Because of this, the cinema manager gave him a free return ticket to see the movie again. However, this time, despite being dealt with by the same person, my son was now deemed to be too young to see the film. I argued with her that he had bought the ticket last week with no problems and that she had seen fit to give him the return ticket just days before, but to no avail. She also refused my assurances that my DS was over 12 and that she was not allowed accept a parent's word regarding their childs age. Photographic ID was the only evidence she would accept.
Incidently DS's friend also got refused by one cashier there on another separate occasion, requeued, got a different person and bought a ticket with no questions asked.
I feel really aggrieved that the law they kept quoting at me isn't applied consistently or very often and that in these circumstances my word as a parent counts for nothing.

What sort of photo ID is a 12 year old supposed to have?

What a daft woman.

Passport which DH bought to the cinema later or soemthing called a citzen card which seems to be an ID card for kids of this age. I personally want to delay the time when my kids have to carry ID with them.

Sorry - mispelling.

Citizen card.

Nope.

Still think she's daft.

I take it your DS got to see the film in the end then?

yeah DS got in because DH came back with DS' passport.

Errr I wouldn't use daft to describe that woman .

A bit jobsworthy but at the end of the day if underagers get in and they get caught the cinema loses it's licence.

BUT,this member of staff gave him a free ticket to come back to see the film so I agree very odd that she allowed him in last week but not this week.

My friend used to work in our local cinema and you'd be surprised,or maybe not, how many parents lie about their chidlren's ages to get them into movies.

My dd takes her national entitlement card with her when she goes to the cinema with friends to prove her age. Does your son have something like this? Not sure where you are, we're in Scotland, all secondary school children get them when they go into first year.

The manager is wrong- according to the British Board of Film Classification, a child under twelve may watch a 12A if accompanied by an adult.

And from the Odeon's own site:

"12A is a recent change in classification in the UK. It means that the BBFC have classified the film unsuitable for children under 12. However, they may still watch the film, as long as they are accompanied by someone over 18 at all times during the showing. Advice is given regarding the content of the film and the ADULT must decide if it is appropriate for the accompanying under 12."

Worrying that a cinema manager doesn't understand this.

My DS is over 12 and he was to go in with just his friend - not me. I'm teed off because they let him last week but not this week for the same film. Sure if the law says he must prove his age then I guess I can see why she asked but it's just too arbitary.

My local cinema also states that for a 12 or 12A,movie ID must be shown at all times, they are just covering their own backs.

It wasn't a problem in the old days because businesses and individuals didn't get sued or sacked as a consequence of getting it wrong. Now it's a possibility, many are panicking and erratic.
Like the number of times individuals are asked for id when buying an age-restricted product.

Daft woman. How can she serve him one day & not the next?

Good job DS had a passport!

'How can she serve him one day & not the next?'

You don't know if she got warned or scolded or reminded in between the two incidents.

Some people who have low jobs like to be arseholes to feel powerful, such as check out staff.

DP took DS1 to see the men who stare at goats, when they ask how old DS1 was DP said 15, job done.

(DS1 is 13 )

And that's why they ask, flap and ask for ID. Because you can't take a parents' word if the consequences are bad for you. Why should you take the risk for someone you don't even know?

Yes kimi, thats why people follow the rules of their employment, to make themselves feel powerful for a moment of happiness in the drudgery of their life with their low job.

Silly jobsworths

Problem is some parents would say there underage kids where 12 just to get rid of them for a couple of hours.

What BOA said, you should make an official complaint, I would have.

Can I also add I've seen very young children in to see Avatar

Thanks for all your comments.

I was fairly wound up because I thought that being present with my son would have counted for something (as it apparently did the previous week). If the law really prohibits cinemas from taking a parents word because we're such an untrustworthy bunch then I can't see what difference it makes whether I'm sitting next to him or not. Perhaps parents are going to be banned from having broadband, TV and have to get a sick note from a doctor when your child is off sick from school.....OK I'll stop ranting, for now.

But who is going to walk around the cinema checking the ages of children watching 12A films?

I don't even know who has the responsibility to provide and check up on the licence. Anyone know? Anyone ever heard of a cinema losing its licence?

I would expect a cinema to take reasonable measures to ensure under 12s don't see 12A films alone but it will be on TV in no time at all and so many children may watch it then anyway.

With a dd who is the youngest in her school year this is a real pain for me. Many of her friends are old enough to see 12A films but she won't be until just before she returns to school at the end of the summer holidays. I either have to encourage her to lie or accompany her and friend(s) to the cinema.

That is quite weird. I didn't even know that ratings other than 18+ were enforceable, I had assumed it was down to parental discretion.

Most of the kids in DS's class have seen Avatar at the movies and they are all 5 and 6 (we decided against it due to the "soldiers being bad" element it apparently contains).

I don't see the problem TBH. He obviously looks borderline 12y, so the ticket seller needs to check. Of course they can't just rely on a parent's word - parent may be lying, might not actually be the parent, etc.

I believe cinemas can get into trouble if they allow underage children see the film. Therefore it is their job to challenge children they are unsure about.

No different to asking for ID in other situations: to get into museums cheap if under a certain age, to buy alcohol/cigarettes/glue/knives, to pay child's fare on a bus, etc.

Photo ID is available for this age children, even if they don't have a passport. There are leaflets in our local supermarkets for some cards they can send off for.

Morloth - if accompanied by an adult then a 5y can see a 12/12A film. It is if they are unaccompanied that it is an issue.