asked for an id card

geordief

A friend was asked for an ID card when buying a cigarette lighter.
Is this allowed?
Is it common practice?

Spike440

This happened to me when I was younger and it really annoyed me. I don't think there's anything illegal about it since the store has no obligation to sell any of its goods to a customer.

You could argue that it's discriminatory treatment on the grounds of age.

faceman

I would consider the store to be acting responsibly regardless of whether or not there are laws around it

Spike440

faceman wrote: »

I would consider the store to be acting responsibly regardless of whether or not there are laws around it

I don't agree with this. There is no restriction on buying a lighter or matches. A person may be buying them for any number of reason, although I'll conceed it will usually be cigarette related. Regardless, it's not the place of the store to make assumptions about the motive of the buyer, or to judge what is in the best interests of the buyer in the absence of legislation.

What's next, refusing to give crisps to an overweight person for their own good?

captainzapp

when i was in boston last i went in to a shop to get a lighter. they didnt sell lighters but they had matches. complimentary ones. but they asked me for ID before giving them to me. they said they had gotton in to trouble before giving them out to underagers. so i dont know about here but it sounds like theres a law against it in the states!

geordief

thanks for your replies.
It is incidental I suppose but the friend is actually19.
She has told me that buying cigarettes is much more difficult in France but we are both surprised at her being asked for an ID to buy a lighter.

faceman

Spike440 wrote: »

I don't agree with this. There is no restriction on buying a lighter or matches. A person may be buying them for any number of reason, although I'll conceed it will usually be cigarette related. Regardless, it's not the place of the store to make assumptions about the motive of the buyer, or to judge what is in the best interests of the buyer in the absence of legislation.

What's next, refusing to give crisps to an overweight person for their own good?

What possible reason would a child need a lighter for?

Spike440

faceman wrote: »

What possible reason would a child need a lighter for?

As I said, of course it will usually be for cigarettes, but it could be for an adult, or for use with a chemistry set (don't laugh, I liked chemistry). My point is that if there is no law to restrict the sales (like with knives, cigarettes and alcohol), it is not the place of the shop to make its own law.

geordief

spike440 wrote: »

What's next, refusing to give crisps to an overweight person for their own good??

are they already some of the way along that road in the UK (hope I am right) where they can refuse treatment to smokers (or is it the obese? ) for smoking related illnesses if they refuse to quit (not that I would necessarily oppose that but it does leave a bad taste in the mouth) ?

Sully

I always thought you had to be over 18 to buy a lighter/matches? Or over 17 at least?

Kimbot

Only thing I can see on it is this:

http://www.consumerconnect.ie/eng/News_+_Research/Consumer_News/Disposable_Lighters.html

Doesn't state there is a legal age to buy or anything.

Carawaystick

Off the top of my head, as a non smoker, reasons I had as a 13 year old for matches or a lighter would have been :
melting rope to stop it unraveling
lighting a stove to cook
lighting a campfire
lighting a tilly/gas lamp
lighting candles

faceman

Spike440 wrote: »

As I said, of course it will usually be for cigarettes, but it could be for an adult, or for use with a chemistry set (don't laugh, I liked chemistry). My point is that if there is no law to restrict the sales (like with knives, cigarettes and alcohol), it is not the place of the shop to make its own law.

I think a judgement call on the part of the shop assistant can determine whether or not the lighter is going to be used for purposes other than for acting the maggot.

I doubt the majority of teens/kids (and lets not forget thats what they are when under 18) are buying lighters/matches for camping, chemistry sets or for their parents.

Spike440

Faceman, I don't think either of us is going to convince the other on this!

faceman

Spike440 wrote: »

Faceman, I don't think either of us is going to convince the other on this!

Perhaps not. There is only one way to settle this.... pistols at dawn!!

Spike440

faceman wrote: »

There is only one way to settle this.... pistols at dawn!!

Can we make it noon? Dawn is so early these days.