ID

[Redwinevino]

You people need to a grow a beard. Fact.

[Kill]

im 25 and never had to produce id once

[manc]

You people need to a grow a beard. Fact.

[serendipitous]

I am only 19 and managed to go through Wednesday and Thursday without being asked for ID once, which I found odd. From Friday onwards I was asked for ID every time, good job I didn't put my passport in the lock up as I had considered doing when I wasn't being checked. There was definitely a noticeable clamp down halfway through, most of the people with me noticed the same.

[pouxin]

Ha! I'm glad other people had this problem. It's hard for me to grow a beard, on account of how I'm a lay-dee.

I do agree that it can be hard to judge someone's age, and having worked in a bar for 7 years (through my BA, MSc, PhD snore snore etc), have had issues myself. But, seriously, once you approach 30 your skin changes. If you ask someone to smile they get lines that take a while to drop out round their eyes and mouth (no matter how well they take care of themselves) that you just DON'T get when you're a teenager. Up until about 25 I can see it goes either way, but there really is no way you could mistake someone 28+ for a 17 year old if you ask them to give you a smile :-) (and, tbh, if they do fool you - if their skin is that raddled at that point in their life, they deserve a pint of cider!)

I do have sympathy for bars and individual bar workers being fined/losing licence, but carrying your passport or driver's licence is nuts. It's not just the cost of replacing, it's the ID fraud consequences. Also, I don't have a driver's licence (apparently provisionals are unccepatble - ERM...THEY'RE EXACTLY THE SAME!), and passport seems a very foolhardy to thing to carry on your person round a big field of drunk and occassionally morally questionable people (most people are lovely, obviously, but the theiving posts make it clear some are not).

Edited July 11, 2011 by pouxin

[LondonTom]

I do have sympathy for bars and individual bar workers being fined/losing licence, but carrying your passport or driver's licence is nuts. It's not just the cost of replacing, it's the ID fraud consequences. Also, I don't have a driver's licence (apparently provisionals are unccepatble - ERM...THEY'RE EXACTLY THE SAME!), and passport seems a very foolhardy to thing to carry on your person round a big field of drunk and occassionally morally questionable people (most people are lovely, obviously, but the theiving posts make it clear some are not).

[Tomo18]

got id'd once at one end of bar went to other end and got served no problem, the security guard came over and said dont worry i wouldnt of id'd you, what can you do

[krisskross]

got ID'd once and 26. Not sure if i look young but do tend to get ID'd a lot around london. I do think the ID25 policy is a way to get people used to carrying ID with them so there'll be less of a fuss when the govt push for proper ID cards again.

[geebus]

I got asked at a near deserted Other stage bar at about 1.30pm during the naked and famous. I'm 33. When I said there's no way I look under 21 I was told that he'd been asked to check for id for anyone that looked under 50 as one of the bars had been caught out the night before!

[Rufus Gwertigan]

I do have sympathy for bars and individual bar workers being fined/losing licence, but carrying your passport or driver's licence is nuts. It's not just the cost of replacing, it's the ID fraud consequences. Also, I don't have a driver's licence (apparently provisionals are unccepatble - ERM...THEY'RE EXACTLY THE SAME!), and passport seems a very foolhardy to thing to carry on your person round a big field of drunk and occassionally morally questionable people (most people are lovely, obviously, but the theiving posts make it clear some are not).

[happinessisawarmgun]

I've carried a driving license in my wallet since I got it 4 years ago. Been through a few Readings, a couple of Glastos and a Bestival as well as countless nights out and not lost it yet. I reckon the chances of losing it are fairly slim.

[The Goo Goo Doll]

Not trying to boast or anything, just merely sharing my view on this.

Being 16 and wanting to have a great last night, my friends and I went to the Brother's bar. It was busy which may have helped and we could maybe pass for 18 but not really. All of us bar one got served.

Interesting as people say it got stricter half way through. Maybe we were a one off.

[izcuje]

I'm pretty sure I saw a bunch of girls that didn't look a day over 15 with drinks too. Of course, it could just be the anti-aging products finally living up to their claim.

[sowfpig]

Got IDd at the cider bus. Fair doos. Showed him it no probs but then he had a long list of names and descriptions of people and had to write down everyone he'd IDd. He was quite rude though but then said he's going to put 'big brown eyes' as my description.

[sisterofmercy]

I'm only 19 (and look about 15) so get ID'd everywhere, it seems, apart from Glasto. Got served at Brothers bar without being asked for ID, though my friend got ID'd so I guess it was just lucky.

[glasgowpete]

I was working with the wbc in the village inn, there was a definate emphasis on the challenge 25 rule and a big push in asking for ID across the board. You have to remember that everyone serving you in these bars are volunteers, none of us want to get shafted for serving an under ager as its the person that serves, not the organisation that takes the wrath. and the bar managers were watching ensuring that we were IDing a large amount of people. so it had to be done. it wasnt to offend, merely the big thing from the license holders. And we got to keep them happy to ensure that we get working places again

thus there were times i asked for ID and the person was 25 - 30, take it as a compliment i always followed up asking for ID by saying how lucky you are to be asked. I dont think it will get any better in 2013, i would just bring ID to avoid beign turned away if your under 30 (and beardless!). seems crazy, but maybe they are looking for ways to hammer glastonbury festival for failings.

[LondonTom]

Not trying to boast or anything, just merely sharing my view on this.

Being 16 and wanting to have a great last night, my friends and I went to the Brother's bar. It was busy which may have helped and we could maybe pass for 18 but not really. All of us bar one got served.

Interesting as people say it got stricter half way through. Maybe we were a one off.

[happinessisawarmgun]

You people need to a grow a beard. Fact.

[Bender]

I'm 21 and i didn't get ID'd, but i do look a smidge older i suppose

Any ladies care to recommend me some anti-ageing products?

[Craigston]

I'm 31 this week and was id'd in the Bimble Inn - had my passport luckily in my day bag. Made my day as I haven't been asked for almost 10 years.

Bit silly, but I guess when it's dark and folk are tired and busy it's better to be cautious.

[lucyginger]

I got ID'd in the bread and Roses and I was 34 last week! Made my day!!!

[whatmidlifecrisis?]

My mate got challenged in the bimble and he's 39! He Got asked to take his sunnies off to show his laughter lines before they would serve him. .

I wasn't really that surprised - there was a lot of what I would call 'space cadetery' in the bimble this year. Not once was my drinks order correct the first time, they didn't appear to serve people in any discernible order and I had to ask them to correct my change more than once. I don't know the cause, maybe their weed was too strong- the staff just all seemed a bit tonto.

It put me off going TBH and the park bar became our local by Saturday night. .

[LEDZEP66]

We all got ID at the Bimble inn. 2 of us are 30, 1 is 27 and 1 is 53.

I went to get the drinks in and we were stood at the bar when a lady asked us all for ID, we didn't have any as had put it all in the lock up, never been asked in 5 years so didin't think we would have to carry it around with us. In the end she said 'well I know he is old enough (53 year old) so I can serve him' We weren't going to stay there if only he could drink but she said you can all drink but he has to order them all. I gave him the money and told him what we all wanted, all this whist stood at the bar so she heard everything but then said to him 'so what would you like'

I know they have to clamp down but the way she did it was breaking the law anyway, pretty pointless exercise if your not going to go through with it.

[miss_scarlett]

I worked on one of the bars at the festival and there was a big focus on asking for ID. We started off operating 'Challenge 21', until Friday (perhaps Saturday) one of the bars was almost shut down because an underage guy who apparently looked mid-20s successfully bought alcohol without ID. The staff member concerned lost their wristband and had to leave the site and the bar was almost shut down. After that we were told by the bar managers to ID everyone who could pass for under 30.

To be honest I am not apologetic about being overzealous about asking for ID because it means that I'm not risking my right of entry to the festival and the donation that the company running will make to charity if I complete my required shifts. I'd be surprised if they was any softening up on the issue in 2013. If you can pass for early-mid twenties, sorry but I don't think it's unreasonable to expect you to get a provisional licence.

[FluffyFairy]

I'm 31 and I often get ID'ed in the real world. Luckily I took all my own booze in so didn't need to use a bar. I would have been buggerred too as I don't drive and I have lost my passport.

Anyhow one solution for the festival could be that anyone concerned about being asked for ID and who don't want to cart their documents about could get ID'ed at the gates by security and be given a second wristband to proof they are old enough to drink. Passport/driving licence can then be stored safely in the car or the lock ups.