Long live Age Discrimination!

13/05/2009

Since turning 60 last year I have had free travel on bus services across England and free bus, tram, tube and rail travel within London.  I have a Railcard which gives me up to 1/3  off train tickets, and I can get up to 50% off the cost of a journey on a National Express coach.  The Transport Museum is free, and I get discounted admission to many other museums and galleries and to performances at local theatres.

 

I have had a free eye test and 25% off a pair of spectacles, and if I had needed to go to the doctor I would have been able to get a free  prescription.  If I borrrow a CD or DVD at my local library I only pay 50% of the normal fee, and my wife enjoys free swimming at the local pool.  She can also get 20% discount off a massage at our local beauty salon on Monday.

 

At my local shopping centre I get a 10% discount on everything from a cup of coffee to a lunchtime snack at one of the cafes, and the butcher gives pensioners 10% off on Tuesdays.  That's also the day when we get 10% off at the garden centre, and any number of hairdressers give discounts to both men and women over 60 for basic haircuts and styling.

 

That's just a selection of the age discrimination that currently exists in the supply of goods and services.  And long may it last. Doesn't Michelle Mitchell of Age Concern realise that age discrimination works both ways.  Wouldn't equal treatment mean the end to all of these concessions?

 

G. Stephenson

Ruislip, Middlesex