I think it’s more that if the customer looks like they might be under 25, they should check your ID to make sure you’re over 18

From someone who used to work in a supermarket, you have to be 18 to buy alcohol - but you should ID anyone who looks under 25. This is to avoid people who are 16-17 being able to buy alcohol. It’s plausible that they may look over 18, but very unlikely they will look over 25. It’s a deterrent to stop people trying and a protection for the shops. Hope that helps 👍🏻

In Northern Ireland you can’t even be served by a ‘young’ person if you want alcohol.

Because people don’t always look their age, stores take part in the “challenge 25” scheme to ID anyone who appears 25 or younger to confirm they are over 18. The idea is this stops someone who looks older getting restricted products unchallenged.

You can buy alcohol at 18, but if you LOOK younger than 25, expect to be asked for ID. It clearly says that on every piece of literature the supermarkets display, maybe you need to practice being more aware, or reading smaller sized wordage?

25 is the cutoff for when they check for ID. The alcohol age is still very much 18. If you look under 25 but have ID with you proving you are over 18, you can still very much buy the alcohol.

They don't. What they do is check your ID to make sure you're over 18 if you look under 25. That way they pick up teenagers that look old for their age.

What I see in the supermarkets I use is a sign saying that if you appear to be under 25 you'll be asked for ID if you prove your of age to buy alcohol then they'll do so under 25 or not.

Some places won't even serve under 25's