Getting Asked For ID

[Frutos]

Let me preface this by explaining, for anyone who hasn't met me, that I am 6'5'', I have tattoos on both arms and at present visible stubble because I've not shaved in a while.

I've just been into my local Sainsburys to purchase two bottles of Guinness as a present for someone and got asked for ID on the grounds that the cashier wasn't sure I was over 18. The woman then went on to explain that 'the law' (I put that in inverted commas because I don't believe it for a second) says that you have to LOOK over 25 to be able to purchase alcohol. As I understand it, the law says that you have to be over 18 to purchase alcohol, regardless of how old you look, can someone confirm that for me?

I don't carry any kind of photographic ID on me because, at my age and with my physical characteristics, I've never seen a need for it and, to demonstrate the utter pointlessness of the situation, I told her I didn't have any ID whereupon she looked slightly closer and said "OK, don't worry about it" then proceeded to serve me anyway.

 

[tedebear]

I consider myself flattered to be asked for ID these days But I have to carry ID (and papers) on me at all times as per the terms of my residency...

 

[Cian]

Whereas I'm two years younger than Frutos, buy drink regularly, and haven't been asked for ID in years.

You must have looked a bit nervous or something!

 

[tedebear]

Do you have to be over a certain age to get tattoos?

 

[skipper734]

They were talking about this on tele the other day. Don't remember if it was Sainsburys but it's Sainsburys ,Asda, Tesco's" law" on the basis of magin of error. Most people who look 25 must be over 18.
By the way it doesn't sound as if I would like to bump into you on a dark night!

 

[Beach Hut]

Last time I was asked for ID was if I had an OAP bus pass

 

[Lord Bracknell]

It's not the law. The need for ID if you look under 25 is a policy introduced by Sainsbury's.

I guess they think it's a way of avoiding upsetting their 18-21 year old customers - the ones who spend a bloody fortune on booze and keep supermarkets in business.

 

[Frutos]

Do you have to be over a certain age to get tattoos?

Legally you have to be 18.

 

[Ninja Elephant]

Mr Frutos, you were 6'4 on Facebook, have you grown?

I think it's crazy, if the law is 18 then you should only need to provide ID when it is not obvious, or if there is reasonable doubt. I think that in your case, there's no question you're of the appropriate age. The problem is that the sellers get into trouble if they are duped, and it's not worth them taking any risks at all. Afterall, you could be a secret shopper with the aim of catching them out, they don't know. It puts them, and yourself, into a tough position.

 

[seagullsovergrimsby]

You have to be over 18 to legally purchase alcohol. In order to stop under age sales (failure can lead to the licence being taken away and financial penalties imposed) most retailers have a age restriction policy , so although you are look over 18 but under 25 (30 in Tesco) proof of age is needed. The retailers are only covering their own backs as in-house , Trading Standards and the local Police force make test purchases using 15 and 16 year olds who in reality could pass for 18 or 19 , who they say they look their age (complete bollocks).

 

[gullshark]

I'm 27, 6ft and unshaven. I got asked for ID the other day too, but as I had sent my driving license off to get the photo replaced the lady accepted when I paid using a credit card :/

 

[tedebear]

Last time I was asked for ID was if I had an OAP bus pass

I waved at you tonight 6.30-ish - we drove past on the Upper Shoreham Road - you must have been on your way up from the station....

I'm sure it was you - otherwise there is some man in a suit out there in Shoreham tonight I waved at

 

[skipper734]

Last time I was asked for ID was if I had an OAP bus pass

The only time in my life I have been asked for ID was at B&Q to get an over 60'S discount card.
On a side note The Albion seem to be the only body, Government Dept. organisation that keeps their wrinkley discount at 65 not 60.

 

[Cian]

I'm 27, 6ft and unshaven. I got asked for ID the other day too, but as I had sent my driving license off to get the photo replaced the lady accepted when I paid using a credit card :/

I've used the credit-card-to-pay to get in to a nightclub before with a very ditzy girl doing pay desk / age checking. I was 17 - it was a secondary card on an account in my dads name (that only I used - was working but couldn't get a card of my own cause of being 17). She didn't notice the two names on the front/"SECONDARY" on the sig strip and it was a magstripe only card so she did have to look at it!

 

[luke17]

I'm 25 and get ID'd quite often but it really doesnt bother me... 90% of the time i carry ID and if i havent got ID when im asked to show it it doesnt bother me as the chances are i wont get asked to show it at the next nearest pub/club/off licence.
Feel flattered that someone thinks your under 18 as i do.

 

[seagullsovergrimsby]

On Wednesday , 6 Grimsby Town youth team / reserve players in their trackies , came through my checkout buying cases of beer. As they all looked under 25 I made them produce ID.

 

[BigGully]

Of course the policy by Sainsbury's is an offer of intent to the authoritites that they are the good guys and should they get found out to sell to an underage they can offer this as a defense.

Unfortunately this gets lost in translation by some of their employers and they feel that they are compelled to ask anyone that doesn't look over 25 even implying that this is the law.

They then find it difficult to differentiate from someone that looks say 22 yrs old, from the law allowing them to sell alcohol to anyone over 18 yrs old.

 

[pasty]

I've never looked my age, and still don't.

Many moons ago, in the days when you had to queue to get into the Goldstone, a policeman stopped me in the queue and asked me how old I was. I answered that I was 21 (which I was), and he told me I was in the under 16's turnstile queue, but he only questioned me because I didn't look old enough to be smoking !

 

[Acker79]

I'm a couple of months shy of my 30th birthday and I've never ever been asked for id. Even when I bought alcohol at 14, in the same bar that a year earlier my then 15 year old sister had been refused. (I was buying the alcohol for my 19 year old older brother because neither he nor my dad could be bothered to go to the bar).

 

[Paxton Dazo]

The only place I even bother trying now is at the Lane , if I fancy a cheeky one at HT.

Do you even have an ID?