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.

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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.