Many of you will know that this blog has been a long time coming.
I was born in 1984 (on the day that Torvill and Dean won gold at the Olympics in case you're interested), which this year meant I celebrated my 27th birthday. Apart from getting slightly more panicked about the fact that I'm nearly 30, I hoped this milestone would herald a much greater achievement; finally being able to buy alcohol without being asked for identification.
It's a wish I make every year, as I blow out the pretend candles on my pretend birthday cake, and a wish that so far... has never bloody come true.
There are many reasons I have a problem with getting asked for I.D. The first is that, although I am still youthful looking, I honest to God, REALLY don't think I look too young to buy alcohol. I mean votes on a postcard if you fancy letting me know but I'm pretty sure that in the grand scheme of things, I don't look 17.
The second reason is that usually, the people who ask me are probably no more than about 18 themselves. You know, those spotty kids who work on the till at Sainsbury's who look like they'd rather be anywhere else, but who's eyes light up when they spot your bottle of Pimms as they've only just been allowed to serve alcohol to people. (Either this or they display a look of sheer panic). This makes these people nearly TEN years younger than me! I mean really. You're asking me for I.D? I quite fancy asking them if they've got any to prove they're allowed to serve me! But that would probably be childish...
Coming in at number three on the list is the way people go about the whole I.D. thing. What seems to happen is that they take a quick glance at me, go to serve me and only then think better of it. In the past, people have actually scanned my booze before questioning me, they're that rubbish at it! It's as if they don't trust their first instincts. I silently try and communicate with them "Go on, keep going, scan the bottle, you know you want to. I'm 27!!" But to no avail.
And fourthly is this: The last time I checked, the legal age to buy alcohol was still 18. Not 21. Not 25. And definitely not 27. I am still waiting for someone to explain to me the whole point of the "Challenge 25" scheme that they now run in supermarkets. "If you look under 25, we have to ask you for I.D. to prove that you're over 18." Erm..... HUH?! Is it just me that is confused by this?? So what you're saying is, if you look at me and think I'm say, 23, you STILL have to ask me for I.D? My mind literally boggles.
Admittedly my friends don't ever seem as bothered about it as I do. They ask me incredulously "But don't you like getting asked? I love it! Doesn't it make you feel young? You'll appreciate it soon!" The answer to all this is no, no and NO. I'm a single woman now. I don't want to be out trying to find a nice man whilst my potential suitors are there thinking "Christ, what's she doing in the pub, she must be 17!" Similarly when I'm out with friends, I don't want to look like the 17 year old hanging around with proper adults!
I just want to look my age. No older, no younger. I'm not quite sure what I'm doing wrong as it stands but something about me must must scream "child". Yes I'll be thankful when I'm 50 and look 40. But for now, checkout people beware. I will still give you a withering look and sneer "I'm 27 actually" if you ask me for I.D!
Haha!! Ive only been ID'd once (this probably isnt helping is it), and I was 27 at the time, i loved it! thought it was hilarious!...bless you...I would have thought you would realise why the 'challenge 25' scheme..its because the little wippersnappers all looked a lot bloody older than they are!! little feckers....gggrrrr...and breathe...
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