I MAY have been an SC

[Noo_Noo]

Well, a bit of background:

I live in quite a rural town in the UK (Syston, Leics if you know the area) and as such we have a rather small branch of the Co-Op superstore.
I was in this shop getting a crate of lager in ready for the Download Festival, and being 18 looking 12 I get asked for ID a lot. This is not normally a problem, in fact I quite like bing ID'd politely, showing off the fact that I am old enough to buy alcohol and not look it (it just makes me feel warm inside, I don't rub it in the cashier's face or anything), but the cashier working this particular day was just not nice. I suspect she was a manager as well, she looked older than the others and had more formal attire.

Anyway, I heaved this big crate on to the counter (remember, I am a female 18 year old, and not all that strong) and she just tries to stare me out for a few secoonds. Then, she decides to actually talk to me:

C:" You MUST be joking!"
N:" eh?" *has WTF? all over her*
C: "You're not 18 at all. This stuff is not for you!"

I must point out that there was a sizeable queue forming behind me.

N: *pulls out wallet calmly, to display valid driving lisence with photo*
C: "Oh. Sorry."

I tell C not to even bother ringing it up, I just walk off and go to the local off-lisence. In fact, these guys deserve my money more, in my opinion, because they aren't art of a big company, just a family earning a crust. They also don't talk to me like Im a child. I mean, it's not too much to ask, is it? As i mentioned before, if people ID me politely I really don't mind, but this episode was just not nice.


Please don't hate me for my SC moment!

[LostMyMind]

I think most folks here would agree that you weren't being an SC. You didn't cause a scene, the cashier did for not just asking for ID.

[Spiffy McMoron]

You weren't being an SC at all, Noo Noo. The cashier was being a bit of a bitch to you because of your young looks. You might not have handled it in the best way, though. If you say that you really do look twelve-ish, then I would understand her making a mistake like that. As far as any of us know, she might get truckloads of 15-year-old punks who think that they can get away with buying beer-and she's sick of it. Several of our members work at liquor stores, or grocery stores that sell alcohol, and they all have tales as to the length some kids will go to, just to get some liquor.

[Noo_Noo]

Well thanks for the replies guys,
Whist, in hindsight, I may have been a bit short with the woman, it was hard not to considering it was a bloody hot day and I was carrying a full crate of lager (about 10-12kg) from the rear to the front of the store and on to the counter (it was a long way too, I'm only 5ft 5"). I didn't raise my voice though, that's where I feel like I'm not the SC.

Well anyway, would you consider me to look 12-ish?

[BunnyJas]

Actually I think you look about 16 . You seem to have a good humor about your youthful looks and know to enjoy it while you can. That woman was definately rude and I think that your reaction to it was acceptable. You didn't raise your voice or make a scene unlike her. In fact after she saw your ID I bet she was jealous.

I feel your pain on this one. I'm 27 and 4'11. I look about 18 years old and I get carded all the time, but I'm just now learning to enjoy it while it lasts. Most of the time they are polite about asking for ID, but every once in awhile I run into some jerk like the woman you delt with. It is fun seeing the look on their face after they've seen the ID and realize what an ass they've been.

[Zombi]

I know the girl who's usually on at my local, so she never asks, but I usually get asked otherwise (I'm 19, look about 15). I take it as a compliment.

Noo_Noo, you're cute. Can I keep you?

[Anakah]

Wow. Where do you live where you can buy alcohol at 18? It's 21 over here. I look 17 and I'm almost 22. You'd hate me because I would have carded you. THough not in a rude way. I work in a casino and you would have been turned away for not being 21 hehe :P That woman shouldn't have treated you like a kid though.

[JustADude]

You guys are lucky. I'm 6'3", heavy-set, and wear a goatee... I've only ever been carded on my 21st birthday, and that was because the bartender wanted to make sure I was actually just then turning 21 when he was giving me my free round.

It kinda pisses me off. I could've been drinking underage for years and I never took advantage of it!

[Noo_Noo]

Wow. Where do you live where you can buy alcohol at 18?

I'm in England.

Though I wouldn't have been upset about being carded, I mean, as long as people do it nicely and politely then it's all gravy. It's just I bloody hate being spoken to like I'm 10 when I'm an adult.

[One-Fang]

I don't think you look 12, but I would card you. Since I'm aware people can look wildly different to their actual age I'd have guessed 15-20 but if I had to narrow it down to one number, I'd probably go with ... about 16.

[draftermatt]

You guys are lucky. I'm 6'3", heavy-set, and wear a goatee... I've only ever been carded on my 21st birthday, and that was because the bartender wanted to make sure I was actually just then turning 21 when he was giving me my free round.

It kinda pisses me off. I could've been drinking underage for years and I never took advantage of it!

I know what you mean. I'm the same, (though I shave my goatee off). I get cared sometimes, but I asked a bar tender when I was 17 how old she thought I was. She said 21.

The fact that I am losing my hair in one spot and going gray doesn't help either.