‘These are 18+ items’: Aldi customer says store wouldn’t sell her tampons without ID

A woman in her thirties was left first bemused, then baffled, when she approached the counter of an Aldi to pay for some tampons, only to be denied when she was told she needed ID to purchase them.

The alleged incident, which was posted to Reddit’s r/Australia, was posted by a woman in her thirties who admits she looks younger than she appears, though by no means as young as 18. Attracted by a “super cheap” deal on tampons, she grabbed two boxes and went to pay.

Aldi refuses to sell tampons without ID.
by u/K1ttyK1lljoy in australia

She was left stunned when the female cashier immediately asked her for ID to prove her age. The customer thought she was joking and said, “ID? For… tampons?” and giggled, assuming this was some kind of misunderstanding.

“ID? For… tampons?”

Somehow it wasn’t, and the unamused cashier confirmed she needed to see ID before letting anyone purchase tampons, confirming “No. These are 18+ items. We need ID”. The customer didn’t have ID, so she said “forget it” and walked out. As she concludes:

“I can understand asking for ID for knives, flammable things, spray paint ect but tampons? Are women supposed to not have periods before 18? Someone help me understand the logic behind it.”

It obviously goes without saying that age restrictions on sanitary products are ridiculous. Aldi employees also clarified that there’s no official store policy that you need to show ID to purchase tampons.

Replies indicate a general feeling of unease and surprise that this might be a bad omen of things to come. After all, male politicians appear desperate to regulate and control women’s bodies – maybe today it’s ID checks for tampons, tomorrow you’re required to track your cycle on a government-approved app?

The going theory is that this is the cashier’s choice rather than any kind of rule that’s in place: “feel like this was a degenerate cashier rather than an actual Aldi policy. I literally cannot imagine Aldi setting this as a policy” and “Gotta be one of those religious puritans who think it’s evil because something something penetration.”

Here’s hoping this is indeed a one-off incident, that the cashier is given a stern talking-to by their bosses, and that no other women are forced to prove their age to buy tampons. But, in the unlikely event this happens to you, then absolutely raise a commotion about it at the time. This is one instance where demanding to speak to the manager is entirely justified, and women need to know whether this is store policy or just a rogue employee out to ruin everyone’s day.