'looking' under 21

[Delefia]

I am a 30 years old woman who is often asked to provide an ID in order to buy an alcoholic drink as I appear to 'look' under the legal age. In all cases, the sales assistant is enabled to give a definition of what it means to 'look under 21'. I refuse to get a 21 card, as I believe that I am being discriminated against.
As there is no official/ legal definition of 'looking under 21', I think that all individuals should be asked to prove their age regardless of what they 'look like'.
Does anyone know what the UK law would say?

thanks

[smeagol]

i dont know much about the legalities of asking for id but i know how you feel. I am 27 years old and still get sked to prduce id for buying cigarettes! I really dont think i look 15!
My husband and i have been to America a couple of times and they routinely ask everyone at bars to produce id even if it is apparent that they are well over the legal drinking age. I think this system works much better and saves discriminating against anybody for what they look like.

[Pippa68]

I was asked for ID all the time in the USA. The other day a sales assistant told me I wasn't allowed to use the petrol pump as I was under 16 (I am 39). Don't know if he was taking the pi$$, but I wanted to kiss him.

I have also had people knocking on the door asking to speak to my mum.

I love showing my ID :o)

[Delefia]

I'm glad I'm not the only one!! but that is obvious...
the US system is surely efficient and frustration-free ...perhaps I just need to be a bit patient as I have just found out that some Morrisons shops are now asking anyone who is buying alcohol to prove their age!...

[Postdog]

There was a bit in the papers about Morrisons a month or so back. The cashier asked a 79 year old man for ID, and because he didn't have any, they refused to serve him!.

[joko]

they are just doing their job. it is not discimination so don't take it personally.

they have to do it, if they are not 100% sure because if they make a mistake and sell to a minor they will get sacked.

in their eyes, losing their job is more important than you bristling with irritation.

[Delefia]

I am not irritated by the sales assistants doing their job.

If there are rules that EVERYBODY is subject to (ie; proving their age) then I have no problem with it.

If it is up to the same sale assistants to decide whether by the way l look they should ask to see an ID then I have to take it personally.

I am not against people but against arbitrary decision making.

Could anyone tell how one 'looks' under 21?

Does anyone know how the UK legal system would work in relation to that?

[Pippa68]

I think that is pretty obvious.

If you have a 'young' look about you then they are bound to ask your age. As for the law, that is what they are abiding by isn't it?

As the law stands, if a sales assistant doesn't think you are over 16/18/21 then they are allowed to ask for ID.

[rainhopper]

Joko they will get more than the sack, if they get caught selling to a minor. They face prosecution, a spell in the slammer, and a criminal record!

[joko]

thats the whole point delefia - there is no real definitive way to judge and the shops are at the mercy of the individual to make that judgement - and when that judgement is coming from an 18 year old trainee, you can't expect perfect results.
you cannot teach someone how to tell, you just have to hope they have a vague idea.
i would think its harder to tell with women too, with all the makeup and clothes you see 16 year olds wearing these days.

staff are told if its not obvious TO THEM then to ask - no point in asking if its blatantly obvious the person is older is there?

i have had it mayself and it is indeed very annoying, especially when the person serving is only about 18 themselves, but there is no point in getting upset about it - and claiming discrimination is ridiculous - are you smelling a lawsuit brewing here?
is that what all this is about - you want compensation?

just get yourself an id card, and be flattered that you look so youthful (and stop getting the botox, lol)

[Delefia]

I am not - smelling a lawsuit brewing here
this is not - what all this is about
I do not - want compensation

I want the rules to change so that anyone regardless of 'what they look like' is asked to show that they are over the legal age.

[Pippa68]

That would be far too time consuming.

It is pretty ridiculous to ask a 65 year old woman complete with curlers & wrinkes to show her ID.

[joko]

so whats the benefit in that to you then? what difference will it make to your life here?

it will not change you being asked, rather means you will be asked all the more.

so you will only be happy once everyone else is inconvenienced too?

you want to stand in a queue while the assistant is forced to check that a 45 year old, a 50 year old, a 70 year old and an 80 year old is old enough to buy alcohol??

what an utterly pointless demand and an utterly pointless post.

grow up - no wonder people think you're young if you get upset about things like this!

[Beria]

Joko has said all I was going to say.

I love the fact that you refuse to get an ID card because you're being discriminated against??!?? How warped are you??

[scuzzball]

You silly ******, why should anyone who is obviously over the age limit be asked - what a waste of time. Stop moaning you moron, and get a life.

[alijangra]

Most 30 year olds would be flattered to be asked for ID. My niece is 25 and gets asked all the time, so she is aware she must carry ID. Get over it.

[katangel26]

I'm 27 and always get have always been asked to produce ID since I can remember when buying cigarettes or alcohol. I actually manage to make the 'assistants' that ask me for my ID feel ashamed/awkward. I always laugh when they ask then say 'I'm actually 27 but I have got my driver's licence'. I always see the red tidal wave flush down their faces.

As for it being legal that everyone is asked I do, personally, think it's ridiculous, I know I look younger than I am and some of my friends my age look 35+

P.S. I have noticed though that I always get asked for ID from the 'younger' assistants! Not sure if there is a pattern there lol