Identification

[Caran]

Today at the co-op I was asked to prove I was over 18 to buy some beers for my SIL for Father's Day. I showed my bus pass. I am 71 for heavens sake, can they not use a bit of common sense?

[lady-janine]

for the sake of any other shops in your town the last thing you need is one of the big multiples - asda, Tesco, morissons, sainsburys. they just kill them. very aggressively.

[mrs_overall]

My 19 year old daughter was in a shop at the weekend and they refused to sell her a tin opener!
The world has gone mad

[lady-janine]

was it really a tin opener or was it the way she was holding it. the armed police the store called seemed to report otherwise.

[mccfluff]

don't take it personally, shops have rules - for all you know they've just had a rap for selling alcohol to underage and the till staff have been told to id everyone regardless of the wrinkles.

the sales person is just following the age old rule of "cover thy arse"

[weecalf]

Same as tablets .tried to buy two packs of paracetamol guy at counter said I can not do that ,I said what, he said sell you those paracetamol .i said for heaven sake we have got the flu all of us and by buying two ,it was a Saturday evening it will do us to Monday .He said no way .i said why ...he said I'm only here to buy some my self ask that lady behind the counter .

[zebo]

We were given a long lecture on State Law in New Mexico because we laughed when asked, as two 60+ years old, for ID to buy a couple of beers. Apparently they have to ID everyone to ensure they're over 21.

[Peter Pedant]

.

Roolz is roolz Caran as any skool leva will tell you. sorry umm - I am commenting on their level of current education -

and in fact they would be discriminating if they said - you look like an old'un, you can go unchallenged.

and I think you should be lucky you didnt get a long lecture on New Mexico Law, that's waht I think....

[Mags22]

Be flattered Caran

[Robinia]

I laughed when I saw on my receipt 'Customer looks over 18'.....I do? Really? tut

[grasscarp]

One day cashier was calling supervisor as I was buying wine. I said I am over 18. He replied "I am not". So he had to be allowed to serve it to me!

[whirlyhurly]

Well, what a compliment, you obviously don't look your age !!

[masma]

Mr M was in Matalan paying for an ironing board, the lady behind the counter said 'Sorry but I've got to ask - can you prove you're over 12 years old?' He's 70! What do they think a 12 year old would do with an ironing board- surf!?

[DaisyNonna]

Ginger Ale at the co-op? Lot posher than mine.

[royfromaus]

Which co-op?

I could do with an ego boost.

[EcclesCake]

Whiskey in Scotland? I hope you had sword with the barman!

[EcclesCake]

Hold on....... Whiskey and Guinness?

Not exactly the traditional hauf and hauf!

[New Judge]

Yes I agree with Mikey. You should have left the beer (along with all your other purchases) at the checkout and walked out.

"...and what happens to staff members who don't ask legally required questions?"

They are not "legally required questions", jno. An extract from the government's guidance on the "age verification policy" requirement which is associated with liquor licensing:

"As a minimum, the premises must have a policy that requires people who appear to be under the age of 18 to be asked, before being served alcohol, to produce identification..."

Note the important phrase "appear to be under the age of 18". The requirement is to ensure that they do not serve alcohol to anybody under age, not that they must seek verification of the age of everybody who wants to buy alcohol.

This is yet another example of employers "gold plating" laws and regulations and training their staff that these gold plated requirements form part of the law. These misconceptions spread to the general public (as they seem to have here) and so the nonsense endures.

I related a tale a few days ago of a high street travel agent asking me for proof of identity before they would exchange a £20 note into euros. I was told "it was the law" when I knew quite certainly that it was not. More ridiculous nonsense perpetrated by stupid employers too lazy to train their staff properly.