The only time we are obliged to carry an "ID" of sorts, is when driving. We are SUPPOSED to be in posession of our driving license, - but as I think RMG said previously, we are given 7 days to produce all our relevant documents if pulled by the Fuzz (that's old Brit slang for police lol)

I've been pulled by the Fuzz, and it's not nice , got a speeding ticket.

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I work in a call centre for a bank

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Sal, you're not one of those that I have to call in India are you?

Thanks for confirming that Dave. Mind you, our legal age for buying drink is 18 and we seem to have a fair few alcoholics.

RMG, people are always surprised when I tell them where we're based. There are a fair few Indian people in our place, they've given up trying to convince people they're not in Bangalore!

I'm the one that says "computer says no" when you ask for your credit to be upped!

I believe that the places that serve liquor on military bases are known to serve "minors" who happen to be soldiers. At least, that is what I understood from my ex-reservist ex-husband. It may be different now, I'm not sure. But the "old enough to die for your country but not old enough to drink" is less apropos than one might think, because the last I knew, those 18-20 year olds who were volunteering to die for their country could get alcohol legally on base.

I have often thought that the Germans had the right idea: Drinking age = 16, driving age = 21. (Or is it 18?) In any case, I've often thought that the level of mature judgement it takes to drive a vehicle safely is probably greater than the level of mature judgement it takes to drink alcohol safely, if only because driving takes other peoples' lives into your hands, where drinking deals almost entirely with only your own life. I'm sure many people disagree with me.

As for IDs, I'm pretty much OK with having to have my ID on me. I don't really understand why one would not want to. Here, at least in my state, not only are you required to produce your drivers license if asked to do so while operating a vehicle, but you will receive a separate citation if you are unable to do so. And if you want to participate in an activity, like buying cigarettes or alcohol, which has an age limit, it is your responsibility to be able to produce proof of your age, or there is no reason for the sales clerk to sell to you. (Also true of activities like getting a tattoo, participating in some dangerous sporting activities, etc.) To me, that all makes sense. The burden of proof is on the person trying to purchase an age-limited product or service. The clerk shouldn't have to sell to them if they can't prove they're old enough.

I can't even really wrap my brain around not HAVING to produce ID for things like that. Seems like it doesnt make sense to even have rules limiting things by age if people aren't going to be required to prove their age upon request.

Lothruin, I'd tend to agree with you about the drinking and driving ages. However, when I was in Florida a couple of years ago I seem to remember there being general relief that the driving age was not going to be raised from 16 to 17. Scared the life out of me. You only have to watch a bunch of schoolkids crossing the road to realise that teenagers think they're immortal.

I suppose if you've grown up with the concept of ID it'd be OK. When I worked in Saudi it was illegal not to have ID on you. I'd hate to live permanently in a country where you can be arrested for going out for a walk without your ID card. We don't have them here - yet.

I know we're a bit off subject here, discussing the carrying of ID and all, but.... I guess it was drilled into my head by my mother when I first got a drivers license. Besides being the law to carry a driver's license here when driving, I can't imagine anyone not carrying some sort of identification when out and about. What happens if you have an accident, or if walking, hit by a car -- who is going to know who you are? Who gets notified? And if you are a child, how is the hospital going to contact the parents, and get permission to do medical things? I suppose it is simply letting people know who you are, who to contact in case of emergency. I now have an ICE (In Case of Emergency)number listed in my cell phone. I also have a list in my wallet of any allergies and/or medicines I take. I cannot take aspirin -- what if I had a heart attack and EMTs tried to give me aspirin -- I could die! I just think it is a wise thing, to carry some identification when out and about.

Sorry to be off topic!

I have a rare blood group - and so, it is tattooed on my wrist - I would be OK as long as I don't get my arm cut off in an accident!

Many years ago, I had a friend who had some sort of allergy - penicillin if I remember correctly, - she carried a medical alert pendant, but unfortunatly it was torn from her neck when she was "assaulted" - the hospital unknowingly administered a drug that she was allergic to :-(

I haven't been carded since I was 15, and I would want to know what the clerk wanted if they did card me.

Since I always have ID on me if I'm driving (or if I have my wallet), I don't have a problem with being asked to produce ID, it's just that it never happens to me.

Perhaps the clerk had had a bad experience with the customer in question, and was getting a little payback? Perhaps she had been warned to check ID on every customer or risk disciplinary action? Has anybody thought to ask her why?

The problem with proving your identity in the UK was highlighted in a newspaper recently. Banks have strict rules to prevent money laundering and require prooof of indentity when transferring money. Unfortunately, they rely on passports and the latest style driving licences that carry a photograph. Many older people have neither of these and, according to the charity Age Concern, are experiencing real problems with banks.

I have one of the older style UK driving licences that does not have a photograph, and though my age is on it it is scrambled so it is not immediately obvious. If you know how to unscramble it you can work out my date of birth - the police know how. As I do not carry it with me, it's in the house somewhere, I cannot prove my age to anyone. I do carry a credit card so I guess the emergency services could find out who I am from that.

I actually got carded when I went to the bar with a friend last week. I'm 30. I just laughed and said "Thank you". No reason to get all worked up over it. If I hadn't had my ID with me, I might have tried to convince the door guy that he did, in fact, know me, that I used to play keyboard in his bar once a month, and that 7 years ago when all this happened, I was old enough to drink. But I wouldn't have resented it if he had turned me away at the door. Rather, I'd have been very sorry I'd caused my friend the trouble of having to take me home again without getting that drink we'd planned.

lol, well, yes. But it's a little hard for me to imagine ever being irritated by someone either honestly thinking I'm younger than I am or pretending to. When I'm 64, and trying to buy my bottle of Jack Daniels, I'm just sure I'll be delighted if I get carded for it.

That'd be the retailers Lesley. I tested the theory once by doing a phone order with a large company and using my husband's credit card (he knew I was doing it). I even pointed out that it was his card and not mine, and they told me it was OK!

The he/she scenario has produced many an embarassing moment. Someone handed a call to me once. They were convinced it was a man 'phoning on a woman's account. I went through loads of ID with them, it was all OK but I was convinced it was a man. As my conversation continued and I 'tuned in' the the customer's voice I realised that yes, it could well be a woman. "Sorry luv, I thought you were a bloke" somehow didn't seem the right thing to say!

Retailers - that makes all the sense we need, Sally. Business is business!

The cashier did overreact a bit, but she was just being extra-careful. Their policy must have been that they check all ID, no matter what...it doesn't take much today.

No, their policy wouldn't be to check all ID - they wouldn't sell much alcohol if that was the case.

On the John Lewis website (who own Waitrose) it states...

Age-related sales

Society has deemed some product categories as unsuitable for young persons to purchase. To restrict their sale, retailers are required by law not to sell these products to persons under the prescribed age.

We take our duties as a responsible retailer very seriously and all our Partners are made aware of the need to watch out for under-age customers trying to buy products illegally, particularly knives, cigarettes and alcohol. We provide regular training to our Partners on proof-of-age identity documents.
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There is no mention of asking for proof of age from ALL purchasers of alcohol. The majority of shoppers will not have any ID like that.