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Think 25 Policy - Am I just being stupid??

Okay, so i work part time as a Cashier in a store that goes by a 'think 25' Policy for alcohol and cigarettes etc. I personally think this Policy is absolutely unworkable and am now considering switching jobs because of it. Firstly, I barely look 18 myself so I don't have a great amount of confidence ID'ing people anyway, but I think it's totally unfair that the managers sit in their offices and create policies such as "ID anyone that looks under 25 and ID everyone in groups" but they're not the ones that have to deal with the disgruntled customers when they are refused their sale because they've been ID along with their party.

So, do you think I am over reacting? Or should I consider looking for a new job? :colondollar:

Reply 1

Phillipsherman

14

Its a bit annoying but not worth switching jobs for

EDIT: especially when you get a group of 6 or more cocky chavs who have blatantly fake IDs as they are two years below at school, but yeah money

(edited 14 years ago)

Reply 2

DarkWhite

17

Original post by aaron.boy

Okay, so i work part time as a Cashier in a store that goes by a 'think 25' Policy for alcohol and cigarettes etc. I personally think this Policy is absolutely unworkable and am now considering switching jobs because of it. Firstly, I barely look 18 myself so I don't have a great amount of confidence ID'ing people anyway, but I think it's totally unfair that the managers sit in their offices and create policies such as "ID anyone that looks under 25 and ID everyone in groups" but they're not the ones that have to deal with the disgruntled customers when they are refused their sale because they've been ID along with their party.

So, do you think I am over reacting? Or should I consider looking for a new job? :colondollar:

Whilst I'm sure angry customers can be frustrating, customers can get angry for any number of reasons, from wrong shelf tickets to having to pay for something they break; at the end of the day, it's the rules, and I think you'll struggle to find a job where you agree on absolutely everything the company does.

In terms of the policy, it is a bit too far - 21 I reckon would suffice - but it's a sensible solution to a common problem - people getting served alcohol because they look older than they are. From the company's point of view, if they get caught selling to the underage, they get fined in the thousands.

I wouldn't say it's worth switching jobs for - many supermarkets and such employ this policy now anyway.

Reply 3

bloomblaze

17

i think its a totally silly concept to id anyone who looks under 25...............alcohol and cigarettes are items you need to be 18 to buy, hence its logical to id anyonw who looks under 18 or about that age, under the think 25 policy, youd be id'ing people who look in their early 20s, definately looking older than 18

Reply 4

charcharchar

14

think 21 is an adequate policy in my opinion, there is no need to do it up to 25.

Reply 5

aaron.boy

OP

2

Firstly, wow this board is very efficient. I've never known such quick replies :biggrin:

And yeah, I understand customers can get upset over a number of things. But I feel that I'm sitting at the checkout trying to enforce this ridiculous policy and causing unnecessary stress for both me and the customer. I honestly dread it when someone youngish approaches the till with Alcohol lol. I don't want to sound like a little wimp, but I'm supposed to ID people but I have no authority to do anything at all if people become Abusive, maybe ID'ing should be a job solely for Security?.... @DarkWhite, yeah I don't think I'd work in a supermarket again.

Reply 6

suzie101

1

Well what I find ridiculous is that my partner has been refused entry to places and been refused to be served despite having legal ID proving he is infact over 18....At 20 he got turned down from a club as he was told he was 'blatently using someone elses ID' - now I dont get this as the picture looks just like him, albeit it was taken when he was 17 but he hardly looks different.

Then last week in IKEA we bought a load of house stuff and bought a pair of kitchen scissors, the bloke on the till asked him how old he was, my partner said 21, the guy asked for his ID which he gave and then he still didn't beleive it was him and got him to tell him his date of birth, his address on the license and everything...absolute joke. He doesnt look young either which is what is so silly...and he didn't ID me either and I do look young (I once got ID'd at the age of 20 to buy an age 16 game). Most brilliant thing ever was a week after my 18th birthday I went to a club, the bouncer refused to beleive I was 18, I said it was my birthday last week he still didn't beleive me, smugly asking for my ID thinking I was going to refuse....He looked gutted when he realised I was actually 18

IDing is a joke

Good thing is when we buy a bottle of wine with the weekly shop we never get ID'd anymore, guess there arnt too many under 18's buying a weeks worth of shopping lol

(edited 14 years ago)

Reply 7

bananaterracottapie

18

i think it would be easier if was think 30...that way it isnt half as embarassing as if you id somebody above that age-theyll probably take it as a compliment :smile:

Reply 8

dr. doc

i dont think it is worth quitting your job over, but i can understand why it is such a hassle.
could you not suggest to your bosses that it takes a longer time to ID everyone under 25, and groups, and this means that queues form, people dont want to wait, and so dont buy things there?
many managers understand issues like this when they are put in an economic context.
you could also suggest that maybe you dont have to ID EVERYONE in a group, just ID them if you suspect they may be underage.
I hope this helps

Reply 9

Tabers

15

Original post by suzie101

Then last week in IKEA we bought a load of house stuff and bought a pair of kitchen scissors, the bloke on the till asked him how old he was, my partner said 21, the guy asked for his ID which he gave and then he still didn't beleive it was him and got him to tell him his date of birth, his address on the license and everything...absolute joke. He doesnt look young either which is what is so silly...and he didn't ID me either and I do look young (I once got ID'd at the age of 20 to buy an age 16 game).

Ikea is a funny place. I tried to buy some knives there which you can buy at 18. They turned round even with my ID that their policy was that you have to be 21 to buy knives. It's not like that anywhere else I go, its 18.

Anyway, back to the thread. I get asked for ID all the time, I don't look anywhere near 18, probably more like 13. But I understand when they ask for ID and I show it. Some people just get stuck up about it. But a lot of people I'm sure will be fine with it. If thats your stores policy then stick to it, you could get in a lot of trouble if you don't. Just think, will you be able to get a job if you quit, because I know how hard it is to get a job especially a part time one at the minute.

Reply 10

suzie101

1

Original post by Tabers

Ikea is a funny place. I tried to buy some knives there which you can buy at 18. They turned round even with my ID that their policy was that you have to be 21 to buy knives. It's not like that anywhere else I go, its 18.

YES - they said to us 'oh the law states you must be 21 to buy knives/Scissors etc' I was like 'er no it doesn't!'

Reply 11

Hot Sauce

10

I used to dread asking for it when I first started working. I worked in the city centre and most people expected to be ID'd and would have no problem showing me their ID. What I hated the most was (when adhering to Think 25) I would ID somebody that I thought looked about 22-24 and they wouldn't have their ID on them. It's horrible because I know they're old enough, I've only asked them so I can log it in my ID request book :frown:

Normally I just used to let them off though.

Reply 12

Juno

20

Original post by dr. doc

i dont think it is worth quitting your job over, but i can understand why it is such a hassle.
could you not suggest to your bosses that it takes a longer time to ID everyone under 25, and groups, and this means that queues form, people dont want to wait, and so dont buy things there?
many managers understand issues like this when they are put in an economic context.
you could also suggest that maybe you dont have to ID EVERYONE in a group, just ID them if you suspect they may be underage.
I hope this helps

But if you sell to someone underage the consequences are huger - the cashier gets a personal fine, the store can be fined, and in extreme situations can have its licence revoked or the store closed. So a few seconds longer in a queue isn't a problem.

Reply 13

aaron.boy

OP

2

What Juno says is correct, if I don't ID people it's my ass - and if I do ID people they have more than once become very abusive, and I have no rights to ask them to leave. I feel like it's a no win situation.

Reply 14

ilickbatteries

15

Since when did store policy override the law?

You can't purchase anything from Wetherspoons unless you're 18, it's mad. Not even food.

Reply 15

Vohamanah

16

I think 25 is well OTT. I'm 25 and I still get asked for ID all the time. At this rate I'm gonna be at least 35 before people actually believe I'm old enough to buy alcohol.

Reply 16

Juno

20

Original post by aaron.boy

What Juno says is correct, if I don't ID people it's my ass - and if I do ID people they have more than once become very abusive, and I have no rights to ask them to leave. I feel like it's a no win situation.

You sound like you need more training. You should be allowed to ask for backup, and as you have to refuse the sale you are allowed to ask them to leave (or ask for someone else, eg security, to ask them)

Reply 17

username91207

16

Original post by ilickbatteries

Since when did store policy override the law?

You can't purchase anything from Wetherspoons unless you're 18, it's mad. Not even food.

Really? I've bought food from Wetherspoons without being ID'd... I've only just turned 20 but I look far younger - in fact I'm often told I could easily pass for being school age, and people who've only just met me always think I'm around 16.

Reply 18

ilickbatteries

15

Original post by snowyowl

Really? I've bought food from Wetherspoons without being ID'd... I've only just turned 20 but I look far younger - in fact I'm often told I could easily pass for being school age, and people who've only just met me always think I'm around 16.

Me and two girls went to Wetherspoons after our English exam. We weren't buying alcohol, and specifically stated this. Perhaps it is a new policy, or just that particular pub, but I was told there and then that I cannot purchase food without proving I'm 18.

I didn't take my ID because I had no intention of buying anything age-restricted. So I left and went to McDonalds instead :redface:

Reply 19

Rhi93

13

I have to ID people at my work, and since I'm crap at guessing ages I sometimes find it a bit hard....but seriously, if in doubt, ID. You never know when you could be test purchased or something and it's not that big a deal that you should quit your job over it. Most people are fine with being asked for ID, don't stress about it too much :smile:

Think 25 Policy - Am I just being stupid??

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