Over the next nine days many of your readers will buy products that are age-restricted, such as alcohol, tobacco, DVDs and computer games, even Christmas crackers.

To prevent under-age sales and avoid possible prosecution most shops operate a Think 25 policy, because it is difficult to tell someone’s age.

This means if you look under 25, you maybe asked for proof of age ID at the checkout and if you cannot provide this, the sale maybe refused.

Shopworkers don’t do this to be awkward. Both the law and their employers say they must.

Any shopworker making an under-age sale risks being fined up to £5,000 and getting a criminal record.

Failure to ask for ID could also result in disciplinary action from their employer.

An Usdaw survey showed that a shocking 65 per cent of shopworkers have been verbally abused for asking for ID, over 16 per cent have been threatened and two per cent physically assaulted.

Shopworkers don’t deserve this at anytime of year, let alone at Christmas when they are working harder than ever.

Please take ID to the shops if buying age- restricted products and if asked for ID please treat the shopworker with courtesy and respect, as they are only doing their job.

That way we'll all be able to enjoy a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

John Hannett, General Secretary, Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers), Wilmslow Road, Manchester