Best proof-of-age for 15 year olds?

[sweetfluffybunnies]

DS who is 15 was today refused entry to a 15-rated film because he did not have proof of age. I'm not really keen on him carrying his passport around, as its very expensive to replace if lost.

Would a photocopy of his birth certificate be accepted as proof of age? Does anyone have any experience of ID cards, are they worth getting and do most places accept them?

I would really appreciate some advice worth this - thanks!

[Sparklingbrook]

No idea sweet. DS1 is 14 and the only thing with his photo on is his passport. How do you get an ID card?

[bigTillyMint]

Watches with interest!

Actually, DD has a zip card (buss pass) with her photo on, but I don't think it has her age on.

[SoupDragon]

A birth certificate won't work - usually it has to be photo ID. Check these schemes which seem to be widely accepted. The licensed cafe I was in this morning had a sign saying they only accepted PASS accredited ID (plus passport/drivers license)

[HairyPotter]

I don't suppose you are in Scotland? Dd1 (14) has had a young scot card since she was 11. All the children in our region get them for starting secondary school. It has a photo as well as DOB. It also gets her discounts in a few places.

Sorry not much help if you aren't north of the border but perhaps your council may have a similar scheme?

[Remotecontrolduck]

What SoupDragon said, a card with the PASS hologram should be widely accepted as ID.

[AlphaBetaOoda]

Some councils have them but not ours. I've just been looking for something for my tiny 12 year old for the cinema.

[Inncogneetow]

Yes, my son have Citizencards. ds1 is very tall for his age and I didn't want him to get into confrontations with bus drivers or whatever about half fares.

He's 16 now, so I will get him the 16-17 one in September.

[DeathByTray]

DS2 is very young looking. Even now he is 18, he could pass for a 14 year old.

He has always carried a photocopy of the back page of his passport (the one with the photo on).

[BackforGood]

A photocopy of the passport is slightly better than the photocopy of the birth certificate, as it does at least have a bad photo of them on it, but it is a bit of an issue as 15 yr olds don't generally hve photo ID

[secretscwirrels]

I photocopied the passport ID bit and laminated it. Worked ok for cinema and buses. Though it annoys me that they have to pay adult fare at 15 (and 16,17,18) even though they are still at school and dependant on their parents.
It doesn't matter whether they look young or old for their age it seems ID is needed. Some cinemas have a blanket ID policy for some popular 15 rated films.

[Turniptwirl]

Me and a friend were refused to be served in my local in Ireland even though we were both 20 and had our passports with us because we didn't have a specific Id doc from Irish authorities. My stepmum came and had words and we did eventually get served.

[kreecherlivesupstairs]

Different purposes but I had our passports reduced to credit card size and laminated.

[kreecherlivesupstairs]

not our actual passports, the photocopies, which incidentally are color ones.

[MrsMongoose]

Having worked part time at a cinema as a teenager, a photocopied passport would easily work for a 15 year old.

[homebythesea]

my DS carries a photocopy of his passport. his friend recently had to have a parent text a photo of passport to show to spotty youth at the cinema before getting in to 15 movie - such a pain!

[Theas18]

My DS has had a photocopy of his passport refused as ID. It's a total pain!

[SoupDragon]

Probably because it would be reasonably easy to forge a photocopy of a passport.

When it becomes an issue for my DC I'll get them a proof of age ID card.

[sweetfluffybunnies]

Thanks for all your replies. I will probably go down the route of ID cards although it seems like a real faff. But dc's are nearly 16 so I might just wait and get them a 16-17 year one, and just rely on passport until then.

I do understand why some places are strict with age limits, but its such a pain!