smells like a crappy government plan

I have noticed recently that many shops are being much stricter when it comes to sales of alcohol and tobacco related products, with many opting for a "if you look under 21 prove you are over 18" and in many places "if you look under 25, prove you are over 18" scheme. I am 23 and I must look about my age because recently whenever I have tried to buy tobacco or alcohol I have been asked for some form of ID which proves my age. I find this ironic really as I purchased my first cigarettes from a shop when I was about 12, and I was served in many pubs and stores for alcohol from the age of about 13 and since then I have never had a problem - until now.
As I don't drive I do not carry a licence, and I have no other form of ID with my photo and age except my passport. It seems risky to carry that around with me so I don't bother. Today took the biscuit though, when I tried to purchase a can of anti-perspirant and was asked for ID. Apparently you cannot but aerosols if you are under 18 and as I looked under 25 they wouldn't serve me in the shop. That is the first time I have ever been prevented from purchasing deodorant.
The cynic in me reckons that all this toughening up of age laws to the point that if you look up to 7 years older than an age cut-off you must prove your date of birth is just a way to get people irritated when they can't buy things so that they are more receptive to the stupid, expensive and pointless ID card scheme which this awful government is determined to roll out across the country.