When buying cigs, do they ask documents for people that seem to be a borderline adult age? + Is it common to ask cigs to strangers? Thank you
Posted by Different-Public-954@reddit | AskABrit | View on Reddit | 30 comments
r99c@reddit
Yes, some form of official ID. And yes, I've had kids hanging around outside corner shops asking me to buy them back in the day, probably more common before it became like £20+ for a pack of 20.
Worldly_Wafer_6635@reddit
I was one of those children, soz.
I probs asked for a 3 litre of white lightning too.
StereotypicallBarbie@reddit
Same… 10 lambert and butler for 98p!
Which was my £1 dinner money!
Happy days!
Worldly_Wafer_6635@reddit
5 for £2?
StereotypicallBarbie@reddit
10 for 98p but that was probably like 1990
Worldly_Wafer_6635@reddit
Sorry I'm referring to the in-school inflation.
50p a cig or 5 for £2, this was 2000's
StereotypicallBarbie@reddit
Yeah I wasn’t that kid selling.. I was behind the bike sheds puffing away giving myself a life long nu time addiction.
kalendral_42@reddit
I remember 25 rothman royals for about £1.30
StereotypicallBarbie@reddit
25 Rothom Royals! There’s a blast from the past..
I remember Berkeley being the cheapest.. the corner shop would sell them as separates for 10p and we’d call them Berkeley bombers!
kalendral_42@reddit
Buying singles at the chippy used to be a thing as well
StereotypicallBarbie@reddit
Or the ice cream van…
Sufficient_Basil_545@reddit
I went to the shop the other day.
A bunch of young lads outside asked me to go and buy them 20 Richmond.
When I came out and handed them over, they got really annoyed and beat the shit out of me.
Ungrateful shits - I’m never buying sausages for anyone ever again.
Only-Investigator-88@reddit
Ahh good times. The taste of youth 🫶🏼
Worldly_Wafer_6635@reddit
Smells like nail polish vodka, and sticky burnt resin ;)
Different-Public-954@reddit (OP)
BUT EVERY SHOP? Cause in italy they don't really do that, only in specific areas
NaomiT29@reddit
My understanding is Italy (as with many countries in mainland Europe) still has a much more relaxed attitude towards smoking in general, whereas the UK has really tried to hammer home the dangers of it. It's the same with any age-restricted items to be fair; I was asked for ID trying to buy Night Nurse a few years ago, which I didn't have because I was almost 35 and it hadn't even occurred to me to take it!
Breakwaterbot@reddit
In all fairness, Night Nurse should be at least a Class B. The back of the bottle says "may cause drowsiness" but what it should say is "don't make any fucking plans".
NaomiT29@reddit
And that is precisely why I love it! 😂 Only thing that even comes close to helping me get a decent night sleep when I'm ill
I_ALWAYS_UPVOTE_CATS@reddit
If you look under 25 you will be asked for photographic proof of age. Some shops will not accept foreign ID cards. Sometimes teenagers will ask an adult to buy cigarettes for them, but this is way less common now that smoking is on the decline. Some adults might say yes, but it is illegal to buy cigarettes for an underage person.
Different-Public-954@reddit (OP)
But I'm just visiting I only have foreign ID 😭
I_ALWAYS_UPVOTE_CATS@reddit
Passports are fine, it's just national ID cards that sometimes aren't accepted
Longjumping_Sea7214@reddit
Bring them I’m sure it’ll be cheaper anywhere else buying them here costs a fortune
Worldly_Wafer_6635@reddit
You should be fine with your passport.
alex21dragons@reddit
We have something called 'Challenge 25' which means all shops selling age restricted products (alcohol and solvents are other ones) have to ask for ID if they believe someone may be under 25. The legal age is 18 but the 25 check is meant to eliminate any borderline cases.
This is enforced mainly by local councils sending in young people to make test buys and there are heavy fines and loss of licences to sell those items as penalties.
sadhousenoises@reddit
If you look under 25 they're legally required to request ID. ID has to be an official legal form of photo identification such as a passport or driver's license.
Some shops will enforce this stronger than others, especially chains like supermarkets.
Regarding asking strangers for cigarettes, when I smoked it wasn't uncommon for a stranger to ask me for a cigarette. As they've become more expensive it's felt like it's more of a taboo/rude thing to do. But I still get the occasional person ask when I smoke, but I kinda see it as a bit trashy to do so.
If you mean is it common to wait outside a shop and all people to buy you cigarettes (presumably because you're underage), don't do that. Best case scenario everyone tells you no, worst case scenario somebody takes your money and doesn't buy you the cigarettes. Nobody's going to casually break the law for a stranger.
If you're not underage and you're worried about your ability to buy cigarettes whilst visiting the UK, don't be worried, just keep your passport with you and you'll be fine, you may or may not be ID'd depending on how young you are/look but as long as passport says you're 18 you're fine.
darthelijah@reddit
Save your money and your life. Ask most smokers and their biggest regret is starting. Only just getting free of nicotine 13 years later man
Bambi_H@reddit
They will definitely ask for ID if you could be under 25. That seems to be standard throughout our shops now.
AutobotJessa@reddit
Don't buy them. Don't smoke.
There is literally not even 1 positive to smoking.
Then you don't have to worry about it.
Worldly_Wafer_6635@reddit
Really hadn't heard that? Glad you answered the question, though.
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