Purchasing Difficulties

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I got carded! And guess what, I didn't have my BRP or passport with me.  Mind you, in all the time we've been here, we have never been asked for ID with alcohol.  Not at restaurants, not at the grocery store, not even on the Scottish Whisky Experience in Edinburgh.  I'm not mad I got carded, I'm confused as to why this time. 

I was at the grocery store and decided to buy whisky, not even thinking about showing ID.  The week before I had done the same thing.  I bought Pedro a single malt scotch as an anniversary gift (something he liked in Edinburgh) from the same grocery store.  There are stickers in the alcohol aisles and near the registers that say if you look under 25 you need to show ID.  So when I bought the whisky, I even brought my BRP with me because it was my first time buying alcohol alone. I didn't get a more than a glance my way, bought it no problem.  

Today I saw a sale and decided to get whisky for myself (the type of whisky Pedro liked isn't my favorite, so I wanted to get something I could drink with him). But I got carded. I pull out my Florida driver's license, not having anything else. The clerk called over a manger, and they're discussing the hologram and referring back to a list of acceptable IDs...but eventually they deny the sale because my ID isn't from the UK or EU. They apologized, but I wasn't mad and there was nothing to be sorry about; I didn't have the proper ID. 

Do you know that feeling that you have to prove yourself, even if you haven't done anything wrong or been accused of doing something wrong?  I felt like I had to prove I was of age and had the proper ID. So yes, I did walk home, grab my BRP, walk back to the grocery store, and buy the same alcohol. I tried to get the same clerk too, but she had switched checkouts and I didn't realize until I was leaving (hope she saw I passed the second time). 

Anyway, point is I don't understand how I bought 70% alcohol scotch without ID but get carded buying lesser alcohol (and cheaper!) the second time. Only thing I can guess is a security tag, but why would they tag a cheaper, less alcoholic alcohol?  

Oh well.  Lesson here is: if I think I need ID, I'm going to bring it. 

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Another lesson: if you're planning on withdrawing money in a foreign country (foreign to your bank), make sure your bank doesn't have features against this.  

Today I finally received my debit card. I have been waiting on it to move money from my American account to my Scottish one. See, we have our bank's international fees memorized by now, and know how to avoid most of them.  We know the best way to move money is to withdraw cash from our American account and deposit it to the Scottish one, for a small flat fee.  Compared to a percent charge or an international wire transfer, it's the best route regardless of the amount exchanging. 

However, I could not withdraw cash because I forgot to turn on international feature for my debit card. I thought, maybe it's the ATM, maybe I'm exceeding the withdrawal limit, but no, I had blocked myself.  I'll try again tomorrow. 

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