Excuse me, but can you prove your age?

By Jayne Warren - 12/03/2009

No - I don't mean underage teens trying to buy alcohol. Although you may well have read of pensioners being asked to prove their age by overzealous shop assistants. No I mean the growing number of people who have turned 60 but find that people simply don't believe them when buying goods at places that offer OAP concessions. But what ID is there?

 

An MT reader emailed us saying: "Having just reached 60 I am finding that there are an increasing number of occasions when it would be beneficial to have a recognised ID card which confirms my age - such as shopping at B & Q, OAP discount restaurants and medical prescriptions. My bus pass just doesn't seem very professional."

 

Indeed it doesn't. In rural areas where there is no bus reliable bus service, many older people simply don't carry bus passes because they drive, and in these days of theft and identity fraud lugging your passport around with you is not exactly ideal. I called Help The Aged to find out if there was such a thing as an OAP ID card. After some deliberation, they concluded that there wasn't - just the Government's ongoing campaign to issue ID cards generally. However, they agreed that there is a need for them as today's average 60 year old just doesn't look (or act) their age.

 

On the bright side, its not too much of a downside is it? Please let us have your views on the subject. Have you been asked for proof of age? If, so where? And would an ID card be useful? email editorial@maturetimes.co.uk and let us have your thoughts.