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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Original poster

Teen has come back off holiday with a tattoo

473 replies

GreenTartan · 28/08/2021 15:39

That's it really. He's under 18 and has a fucking tattoo on his wrist.

I'm devastated. I know they're very fashionable but that's not the point. If we'd discussed it I'd have obviously made sure he waited until he was 18. The legal age!! I'd suggested he put it somewhere it couldn't be seen with a shirt on.

As it is he won't be able to do the career he wants with a fucking tattoo on his wrist.

I know MNet will jump down my throat but I'm devastated.

We're booked for consultation to get it laser removed but fuck knows how I'm going to afford it,

His girlfriend has dumped him over it and he really regrets getting it done.

I'm just posting here to moan really, can't stop crying. Stupid stupid little boy.

OP posts:
BlusteryLake · 30/08/2021 19:23

@dreamcup

It's a really old fashioned view that a tattoo would stop you doing a particular career. These days it doesn't seem to be an issue for any jobs I can think of. What does he want to do?
Have you read the thread? Lots of examples have been given of careers likely to be hindered by a druggie tattoo.
ididitsocanyou · 30/08/2021 20:19

I don’t like tattoos, but I don’t discriminate against anyone who has one.

ididitsocanyou · 30/08/2021 20:21

The drug thing is bad though. Agreed. This is a problem.

Ddot · 30/08/2021 20:44

Policeman attesting bloke for dealing drugs, oh look you have tattoo about drugs. WTF 🤪

ShinyHappySummers · 30/08/2021 21:16

Ah well OP look on the bright side. At least he's not has his penis removed 🤷🏻‍♀️

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 30/08/2021 21:44

OP- It’s ‘come back from holiday’. Or ‘returned from holiday

But you can be "on holiday" so why not "off holiday"

Actually "from holiday" sounds wrong , it would be "from their holiday" ?

WeAreTheHeroes · 30/08/2021 22:03

Off is a regional/dialect thing. You understand it so why pick the OP up on it?

MyOtherProfile · 31/08/2021 07:07

Lots of examples have been given of careers likely to be hindered by a druggie tattoo.
I thought most of these examples were speculation to be fair.

MyOtherProfile · 31/08/2021 07:08

Back off holiday is fine. Weird Gramma police missing the point.

luckylavender · 31/08/2021 08:33

@ThreeWitches - sigh.

PoppyDotx · 31/08/2021 08:38

Have you read the thread? Lots of examples have been given of careers likely to be hindered by a druggie tattoo.

The only one I've seen with any credibility is "life model" which fair enough if ops son wants to do that but I doubt it.

SoupDragon · 31/08/2021 08:44

The only one I've seen with any credibility is "life model" which fair enough if ops son wants to do that but I doubt it.

You don't think the lawyer who said Now seeing more detail of ‘drug related’. I’d be disbarred if this showed in court. ‘Bringing profession into disrepute’ would be the likely ‘code of conduct’ breach cited and upheld has any credibility?

everythingbutthesink · 31/08/2021 08:53

Well if he's old enough to holiday alone I'm sure he's old enough make his own choices. Laser takes ages to actually work
Also tattoos don't stop you getting jobs, everyone I come across lately in any profession has tattoos !

PoppyDotx · 31/08/2021 08:55

@SoupDragon

The only one I've seen with any credibility is "life model" which fair enough if ops son wants to do that but I doubt it.

You don't think the lawyer who said Now seeing more detail of ‘drug related’. I’d be disbarred if this showed in court. ‘Bringing profession into disrepute’ would be the likely ‘code of conduct’ breach cited and upheld has any credibility?

My apologies I misread, I thought it just said tattoos - missed the druggie part! My bad.
putthetubeinthebin · 31/08/2021 08:58

He's only 17. He'll have had it covered up by the time he's interviewing for jobs and turned it on to something acceptable. Cover ups these days are really good.

The only career we've had mentioned where tattoos are a no no is the life model.

Ddot · 31/08/2021 09:25

ITS DRUG TATTOO!
I give up

putthetubeinthebin · 31/08/2021 09:31

COVER UPS EXIST

I give up

HeronLanyon · 31/08/2021 09:31

Ddot you have done sterling work throughout. Enjoy your time off. Grin
I’ve rarely seen a thread where it there are such wholly different heated discussions going on, dependant on whether we’ve taken that detail on board, or not.

SoupDragon · 31/08/2021 09:43

The only career we've had mentioned where tattoos are a no no is the life model.

Can you not be bothered to read the whole thread? Even just the last 5 or so would have helped 🤦🏻‍♀️

LadyDanburysCane · 31/08/2021 09:52

Where I work they will not employ you if you have ANY visible tattoos. OP has already said the tattoo is not covered by a shirt sleeve.

Where my husband works it’s the same.

Employees sign to state they accept and understand this policy. If I turn up to work this week with a visible tattoo then I would expect to be dismissed just as I would if I broke any of the rules that I signed up to when accepting the job.

Visible tattoos can have huge repercussions.

putthetubeinthebin · 31/08/2021 09:53

Err yeah, I read it. The only career that's been mentioned where a tattoo is a problem is the life modelling.

All the others mentioned do accept tattoos. They may not accept drug related tattoos but he can get it covered with something non drug related so no issue. What am i missing?

putthetubeinthebin · 31/08/2021 09:53

@LadyDanburysCane

Where I work they will not employ you if you have ANY visible tattoos. OP has already said the tattoo is not covered by a shirt sleeve.

Where my husband works it’s the same.

Employees sign to state they accept and understand this policy. If I turn up to work this week with a visible tattoo then I would expect to be dismissed just as I would if I broke any of the rules that I signed up to when accepting the job.

Visible tattoos can have huge repercussions.

Okay I genuinely want to know where you both work?
MyOtherProfile · 31/08/2021 10:57

@putthetubeinthebin same! I'm trying to imagine being offered a job, given the contract and then a little extra to sign to say no tattoos!

ThreeWitches · 31/08/2021 11:01

Visible tattoos can have huge repercussions

Maybe in your archaic job, but in the real world - times are rapidly changing.

MakeMathsFun · 31/08/2021 11:44

I would take him to the tattoo parlour where he had it done. Then I would politely assert to the management that they had broken the law (Tattooing Of Minors Act 1969: "It shall be an offence to tattoo a person under the age of eighteen except when the tattoo is performed for medical reasons by a duly qualified medical practitioner or by a person working under his direction"). The penalty is "Any person committing such an offence shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding [F1level 3 on the standard scale], or, in the case of a second or subsequent conviction, to a fine not exceeding [F1level 3 on the standard scale]."

However, they might argue "that at the time the tattoo was performed he had reasonable cause to believe that the person tattooed was of or over the age of eighteen" which can be used as a defence in court. Nonetheless, you could argue "the burden of proof in demonstrating a reasonable belief lies with the defendant", but if taken to court, it would be for the courts to decide.

Eitherway, the tattoo parlour could be asked what they are going to do to remedy the situation. Explain the cost of laser removal plus the original fee paid for the illegal tattoo, plus the emotional stress it has caused.

If they are rude or bullying then ask to escalate it to the owner. If that fails, then I would just calmly give them 10 days to reconsider before going to a solicitor. I would also issue them a letter to this effect. If they get aggressive, just go to the Police.