Great Western Coffee Shop

Virgin making fools of themselves - looks like they've picked the wrong child to upset this time though!

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/millionaire-shoe-repair-chiefs-teen-daughter-stranded-at-euston-after-virgin-train-staff-refused-to-believe-she-was-a-child/ar-BBGJ8Av?li=AAmiR2Z&ocid=spartandhp

I am sorry but subjective guff like "we do recommend that if a child looks older then it may be appropriate for proof of age to be carried when travelling" does not cut it.  Who decides if the child looks older?  Where do they recommend this.  Not when buying the ticket I bet. 

Either you have a system which requires all 12 to 16 year olds to carry photo ID (like Oyster and many bus companies do) OR you trust your passengers.  What you don't do is have a system which requires a numpty on a barrier to make a subjective judgement.   

In effect we have that system for buying things legally prohibited to under 18s. "If you are lucky enough to look under 25,... "

Consider your own words "legally prohibited" and think again - not remotely the same as this.

Point was the legal prohibition applies to under 18s, the commercial interpretation is for under 25s, or rather those who appear as if they might be under 25 – not 18 – to prove they are over 18.