Does Vue really check ID at the desk for 18 certified movies?
Posted by pinkfloydfan101@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 62 comments
A group of my friends want to go and watch the new horror movie Obsession in cinemas however a few of them haven’t turned 18 yet but are very close (Obsession is a 18+ movie), I just want to know how serious they take the whole age certification tag and would they genuinely turn people away or ask for their ID at the desk for a movie? We really want to go and see the movie.
vampireefangzzz@reddit
Yeah they def will, i got IDd yesterday for Backrooms at the ripe age of 22 lol
pinkfloydfan101@reddit (OP)
We decided we’re gonna watch that instead, is it good?
AmphibianNo8598@reddit
This conversation happens every day. Yes. It’s serious. They will check. The penalty is at best the employee losing their job and at worst huge fines and jail time. They’re not going to risk it for you.
ClickerKnocker@reddit
Nobody is going to be sent to prison for admitting an underage person into an 18 film. Behave.
Xenc@reddit
If this were a television show we'd fast forward to us all sitting in jail
Morganx27@reddit
AmphibianNo8598@reddit
Most likely no, but it actually is in the realm of possibility for the crime. As are fines of up to £50,000 for the individual. The law sounds silly sometimes and you’re probably not going to find a judge who would enforce it that way, but that is the law.
Additional-Guard-211@reddit
Whilat people are saying that they risk their operating licence, thats true but unlikely if Vue can evidence they are training staff properly, and that is down to the individual cinema, so its anyones guess. But i am sure this is the same as alcohol and other things. Trading standards can and regularly do complete test purchases with children who are not 18 (supervised by a employee) and if the person selling the ticket fails it, they are likely to be dismissed from their role but could also be prosecuted and fined (probably just dismissed if there were no previous concerns). So yeah if the person selling the ticket knows the law, and they absolutely will (should), you are get IDd, and if one of you is getting it, then you will all get IDd. They will not risk letting someone in who is underage as their is a high risk and no benefit to them.
TKC91@reddit
My girlfriend got ID'd with me when we went recently, she's 32. I did not :(
Warriorcatv2@reddit
I'm quite surprised about everything saying they get asked for ID. I recently went to Cineworld. Everything was automated. The only human staff where the people behind the food court & the guy who asked to see the tickets to make sure we weren't sneaking in for a free viewing.
If the cinema in question has multiple screens, theirs no reason you can't buy tickets for another film that's on at around the same time & just go to the other screen when no one is looking.
MrMonkeyman79@reddit
The business can get into a lot of shit for not checking ID if they bek8eve someone is under age.
Whether they actually check your group will depend on whether or not the staff believe your group are all 18. Which of course no one can answer.
Its a risk but ultimately if you're buying the tickets at the cinema, the most you lose is a wasted journey. If you purchase tickets in advance you may lose the price of the ticket as they have no obligation to refund in these circumstances.
tobotic@reddit
Probably depends on the branch, but mine is often pretty understaffed. Half the time they don't even seem to check you've got a ticket.
GradiusHead@reddit
Buy a ticket for the 18 rated film online. Go into the cinema and go to the counter and buy a ticket for a film that starts at the same time and is a 15. Go into the film that's the 18 just before the film starts and use the online booking thing to see which seats are free. Sit in them. Don't cause any trouble . The bored 17byear old staff on minimum wage won't be in any rush to come and kick you out.
Effective-Cash7286@reddit
Why would you pay twice? That is just stupid.
buttnuggetmaster@reddit
From my time as a teenager I can say i got ID'd more consistently at cinemas than I did buying booze and smokes
TomLondra@reddit
Q. Why does a group of your friends want to go and watch the new horror movie Obsession?
A. Because you have been told that is the next thing you must want.
pinkfloydfan101@reddit (OP)
What on earth are you even talking about
Xenc@reddit
Is this a clever joke about the title of the movie
InnisNeal@reddit
people have been going to the cinema cause they heard a film is good since the day the cinema became a thing
PerfectAssumption792@reddit
What?
SkengmanFy@reddit
Wear a fake moustache and glasses, you'll be fine
KingKhram@reddit
You can always try your luck but don't be surprised if you get asked for your ID
E-Step@reddit
Slight work around - buy a ticket for a 12a or 15 starting at a similar time and go into the other screen and watch Obeession
kamrankazemifar@reddit
I've been ID'd at Vue and Odeon every single time but not Cineworld, you should go in expecting to get ID'd.
cooky561@reddit
It's a crime for them to sell a ticket to a person below the rated age, so I suspect its taken reasonably seriously.
Cryozenica@reddit
In reality the venue will be fined & you will be fired if you commit this "crime" i doubt anyone working at a cinema actually cares enough to check though...unless you obviously look under the threshold to be noticed by another member of staff going in.
watchman28@reddit
They absolutely will care given the shit they'll get into if they're caught.
BillWilberforce@reddit
Obviously one person could buy the tickets online or in person. But there should be somebody checking ages as they go into the screen. Probably with a Challenge 25 and local trading standards and head office doing tests to see that they're enforced.
veqtro@reddit
Risk someone losing their job so you can go watch a movie or waiting till the movie comes out and watching it at home with your friends.
That's a real tough one.
GreyFox_1337@reddit
I’m 87 and I got ID’d.
quellflynn@reddit
and tomorrow on stories that never happened...
GreyFox_1337@reddit
Fine I’m 88, but I feel 87.
Fancy_Toe1451@reddit
And don't look a day older 97 too.
GreyFox_1337@reddit
Might wanna try that one again chief. Maybe in English this time?
AlexSniff7@reddit
Yes it's literally the law - no different to trying to buy alcohol ect.
Cinemas can get fined/lose their licence if caught alongside the staff member caught doing it will likely lose. their job.
If you aren't 18 they might let you in if you look older but expect to be turned away.
Cryozenica@reddit
"It's litteraly the law" so? There's no consequence for the minimum wage employee apart from it effecting their career prospects...of working at a cinema...
90% won't care.
_FreddieLovesDelilah@reddit
Actually if it’s anything like alcohol then the individual is fined and charged for it.
Biscuit_Enthusiast@reddit
Consequence for an employee if caught letting in underage people would likely be some kind of disciplinary. Get enough of those and your job is potentially at risk.
I worked in tesco when I was younger, did I give a shit about underage drinking? Not overly. But was I prepared to get myself in a disciplinary meeting over it? Hard no.
ampmz@reddit
I mean there very much are consequences, the minimum wage worker doesn’t want to pay a fine…
SwordTaster@reddit
They check for 15s to the best of their ability. My brother got turned away from life of Pu when he was 14, so they will 100% check for 18s
Jimquill@reddit
FYI it comes out digitally on the 2nd.
So if you dont want to risk it, you can just rent it and have a home movie night.
Equivalent_Age8406@reddit
That's a rumoured USA release date. even if it does turn out to be true, Uk is nearly always a few weeks behind on digital releases.
ampmz@reddit
Only if you don’t know how to sail the high seas.
StegosauriaSky@reddit
I worked at Vue as a teenager. They absolutely will ID you. The fine for not doing so is extortionate.
toady89@reddit
I'd expect so, my mate got ID'd for a 12 (we were 14) and that was over 20 years ago when places didn't ID half as much as they do now.
detectivebabylegz@reddit
When I was under 18, I used to buy a ticket for a film that was starting around the same time and then sneak into the 18+ film.
ImpactAffectionate86@reddit
Yes. I used to work there and you will likely get ID’d.
With a bit of luck you might get served by a team member who doesn’t care, but if you look young it’s unlikely.
Jeremys_Iron_@reddit
🤔
NightBusToGiro@reddit
Yes, it's their job.
SnooDonuts6494@reddit
That'd be illegal. Don't do it.
W35TH4M@reddit
Surely you just have the old enough people buy a ticket for the correct film and the other people tickets for a different film and then just all go in the same screen. I’ve never had someone come in and check you’re in the right room
danielrcoates@reddit
Yes, they do, I’m taking my lad to see TADC when it comes out and we are taking his passport because it’s age rated and will need to prove he’s old enough, just like anything else, it’s the law, not a Vue policy
WhiteDiamondK@reddit
If they suspect then they will have to ask for ID.
Better to book your tickets online then just show your QR code at the screen door. Especially if they’re busy they’re less likely to be bothered.
Remote-Pool7787@reddit
Other way around. They check online tickets more closely because people buy concessions they aren’t entitled to
Remote-Pool7787@reddit
Yes they do and as a group of young people, they’ll check every single one of you. It’s illegal for them to admit under 18s to an 18 rated film. They could lose their operating licence or receive a heavy fine
MountainMuffin1980@reddit
When it's my 17 year old son watching 18s with us? Never. If there's a group of just young teens? Almost certainly. I see it all the time
Fancy_Toe1451@reddit
Attitude and general demeanour give age away far more than looks do.
If the OP's friends are acting like sketchy, naughty, suspicious teens trying to get away with something then they will be far more likely to be ID'd than they will if they just act a bit calmer and cooler. But not too cool, trying to act too cool is just as visually identifying as being up to something as being a bit too hyper and sketchy.
gangus_chan@reddit
Probably yes. What I used to do when I was 17 was buy a ticket for another film and then sneak into the 18. Unless it's a very popular film there will likely be empty seats
beththereader@reddit
Some people would, others wouldn't. The same as trying to buy anything underage. If you look visibly young, there's a good chance you'll be stopped. It really just depends how much the person selling you the ticket cares, or how good their judgement is on your age based off sight alone.
Arabellaa2026@reddit
They take it very seriously and the group will all likely be asked for ID.
Affectionate-Owl9594@reddit
I got IDd for an 18 last week and I’m 30
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