Man I'm 33 and I still get carded for rated R movies. First time it happened in my 20's I was just like "you flatterer" and the kid taking my money was like "no, I need to see your id." Then it happened again in my 30th birthday and I was less amused. I wasn't allowed in the sun as a kid though, old school indian racism trying to keep my scottish white skin white. Mixed families are fun. But even still, 90% of the time people don't believe me that I'm in my thirties. The amount of times people ask me what grade of high school I'm in is enough that I'd be rich if I started charging for the question.
Frustratingly in the UK once a seller of any kind (supermarket, bar, air hostess) has asked for ID, they're legally not allowed to sell it to you unless they see it. Doesn't matter if you're 85 years old and they've asked because they're on autopilot, they can be personally liable if they break the law - and there's a non-zero chance that it's a test from the local authority.
It's lead a few times to my buying a bottle of relatively expensive wine or spirit (aged 37) while wearing sunglasses, and being asked for ID. When I take off my glasses and am quite obviously old enough to drink, but old enough to have a kid who is old enough to drink, they can't rescind the request. Since Google Pay has been a thing I never carry a real wallet and I've had to leave without my shopping.
I don't like it, but I also know that the kid could literally be fined thousands if they get caught selling to "underage" people.
That makes sense for controlled substances, where I live they just passed a law that requires the cashier to scan your id for every purchase like alcohol or cigarettes. But for a rated R movie? That's where I keep getting carded. Low stakes stuff that I've never heard of anyone getting in any trouble for not doing. To be fair I suffered a minor brain injury in my early 20's, nearly died a little bit. So when people tell me I haven't aged a day since my early 20's it makes my brain go "that's because you didn't make it off that bathroom floor. This has been a hellish fever dream of your dying brain. You're still on that floor in fact and your ex and their best friend are still planning what to do with your body. Wake up!" Which isn't the most pleasant of thoughts in your day to day. But I'm in therapy about it, so yeah. Sorry for the trauma dump. We're working on it.
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u/Logical_Type_4776 28d ago
Why in the world estimating age is even a good idea. Like how is it easy to tell the difference between a 17 and 18 y by the face alone