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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Jon Hebditch

Trans teen refused drink in Glasgow pub for 'not looking like her ID'

A trans teenager was refused service in a Glasgow pub, with staff saying she didn't look like her ID.

Savanna Galloway, 19, was in tears following the incident at The Counting House on George Square on Tuesday.

A barman and a manager refused to serve drink after telling her that her passport picture did not resemble her after asking her to prove her age.

Savanna and pals had already been allowed into the pub after bouncers checked IDs at the door.

After ordering drinks on an app, the barman delivering drinks to the table asked to see her ID, and then told her "that's not you" before sending for a manager.

The manager agreed that the passport wasn't acceptable.

She tried desperately to explain she was transgender and even offered to remove her wig as she had short hair in the passport photo.

Wetherspoons have since apologised and vowed to review their policies.

Savannah told BBC Scotland that she had only come out as trans in February.

She said: "A few times I've gone in [to other pubs] and they've said 'that's not you', but my voice isn't very feminine so when I speak it clears up the fact that I am trans, and I tell them that I am too."

"I felt like absolute dirt."

"I felt horrible. I didn't want to cry... I waited till [the staff left the table] before I left in tears."

"I was lucky enough to be with friends, and that we were in a private area - but if I was rejected in front of loads of people I think it would have felt even worse."

"Training for staff is needed to deal with this in a sensitive manner."

A Wetherspoons spokesperson said: “We apologise wholeheartedly for any distress caused.

“Under the law staff need to ask for ID if anyone is seeking to purchase alcohol and staff believe them to be under that age.

“In this situation there was limited contact with the individual as the purchase was made on the Wetherspoon app.

“When the drinks were taken to the table, staff asked for ID from the individual who had placed the order.

“The picture on the passport did not bear a resemblance to the individual and they were asked for another form of ID, which they could not produce.

“The manager stated correctly that they would not be served the alcohol they had ordered as they did not have ID with a true likeness.

“Their money was refunded."

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