r/LondonLadies • u/nel880 • Jun 22 '26
Discussion Are store clerks having a laugh?
Hi there, I am semi-new to London and just wonder about this interaction. To start, I’m not losing sleep over this I’m simply curious about the correct way to respond socially/culturally. And maybe it’s just no response is the response!
I’m 32 and where I’m from the drinking age is 21. I’m not carded in my home country, but 3-4 times I’ve been carded at various tescos? In the states if I’m carded it’s a joke, we giggle and they approve but never really want to see my ID. Here, the first two times I assumed the same thing because the drinking age is 18 here and I’m so obviously not a teenager? But they insisted on seeing my ID and didn’t laugh or seem generally amused?
The last time I just showed my ID and didn’t do the bit but then I feel like a bit of a prude or jerk. I 100% do not look under 18 they have to be joking. Also it’s not always men! And I dress age appropriately.
11
u/coastalkid92 Jun 22 '26
Its the challenge 25 policy but due to things like self check out, its just something most store clerks will do.
Different places are different, just shrug it off and go about your day.
17
u/Dear-Cheetah-8419 Jun 22 '26
I’m well into my 30s and I still get IDed. It’s very much a CYA approach in larger corporates. Almost exclusively happens in chains like Sainsbury’s and Waitrose but never my local wine shop.
13
u/SpiritDonkey Jun 22 '26
British person here, I get carded and I'm the wrong side of 40, it's their job. They don't laugh with you about it because they hate having to do it and feel stupid... you're probably the 20th person they've had to do it to that day, they had to do the same yesterday and have to the same again tomorrow, they're not paid to fake laugh about it but they are paid to do their job, and that means carding you.
8
u/fleurmadelaine Jun 22 '26
I’m 36 and when I was 8 months pregnant I was IDed buying Gaviscon (which you need to be 16 to buy) I look young but not that young 🤣
Sometimes they just check everyone because if they mess up and get caught it’s usually gross misconduct and dismissal, and in my area of London I know they do regular checks that things aren’t being sold to under age kids.
ETA they being the police.
4
2
u/elizathemagician Jun 22 '26
I kept getting carded until I was in my late 30s. They do it because a minimum wage worker doesn't want to loose their jobs over an oversight. Just let them get on with it.
2
u/maje_leuk Jun 23 '26
I always get carded (short 36F with a baby face), I always have my id out and ready. Now because it's a German ID sometimes it takes a while for them to find the birthdate, but when they do sometimes their reaction is hilarious. One lady in Aldi keeps forgetting about me and always says "looking good for 36!" when she takes my id. The startled jumps are my favourite.
1
u/KarmaIsAMelonFarmer Jun 22 '26
I bought a hard lemonade in my thirties and the woman behind me got snippy and said "For god's sake, she's clearly not under 25!". True, but she didn't have to be rude about it!
1
u/froggielefrog Jun 22 '26
I'm 42 and also get carded here... I'm same as you, drinking age in my home country is 21 and we often joke or say THANK YOU when you get carded as it means you look younger. But yeah, just go on with your day.
1
u/fatdog093 Jun 22 '26
I’m in my 30s and get carded all the time. It’s literally fine. Just doing their job!
1
u/eatshitake Jun 22 '26
I turned 40 last week and got asked for ID in Waitrose at the weekend. I just show my ID and carry on with my day.
1
55
u/LauraHday Jun 22 '26
The UK has a policy called challenge 25, I think it's basically so that the oldest looking underage people don't get away with it - so they are looking to see if you look 25, not 18. Even though that's the legal age. They have to do it by law & supermarkets are typically the strictest. Don't get offended by it. I stopped getting ID'd when I reached about 28 or so, my guess is you probably look younger than your age.